After President Ram Nath Kovind recently raised the issue of "unacceptably low" presence of women, SC, ST and OBCs in the higher judiciary at a public event, some NDA leaders have reportedly pitched for an all India judicial service on the lines of the civil services and sought a discussion on the matter in Parliament. According to reports, the issue, which involves the demand for reservation in the judiciary for Dalits and backward classes, was raised in the meeting of top NDA leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, on Friday, the first day of the Winter Session. Who raised the issue wasn't revealed, but it was urged that there should be an all India judicial service on the lines of the Indian Administrative Service or the Indian Police Service. The matter was highlighted recently after President Kovind expressed his concern at a public event over "unacceptably low" presence of women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes in the higher judiciary. Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha had recently demanded that gates of higher judiciary be opened for women and disadvantaged classes, claiming that most high court and Supreme Court judges have come from 250-300 families. "Not only for Dalits and backward castes, the door is closed even for people from general castes. Members of over 250-300 families have been becoming judges in high courts and the Supreme Court since Independence. Doors are closed for all others. They must be opened," he had said. A large section of politicians, especially those drawn from disadvantaged classes, has been vocal over the issue, citing minuscule presence of these communities, especially Dalits and STs, in the higher judiciary. Dalit members of Parliament have long been raising the issue and saying that an all India judicial service will pave the way for reservation for the traditionally deprived sections of society in higher judiciary.