India, July 21 -- The Modi government has adopted a 'pick-and-choose' policy of who to elevate as high court judges, even after the Supreme Court collegium has reiterated the names of lawyers whom it has cleared for judgeship. Recently, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar called the Emergency-era addition of the words "socialist" and "secular" to the Constitution's Preamble a "sacrilege to the spirit of Sanatan." It has been made abundantly clear that only certain lawyers who align with the government will be elevated to the bench as judges.

There are 29 advocates still awaiting elevation to the high court, of which five are women advocates. One of them is Advocate Shamima Jahan, whose name the collegium recommended on January 4, 2024, for el...