Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, declared a commitment to enhance the transparency of the judges’ appointment process. He divulged plans to establish clear and objective criteria for appointing judges to both high courts and the Supreme Court. Chandrachud disclosed that a comprehensive assessment is underway, utilizing available data on judges and their delivered judgments.
Furthermore, a meticulous dossier will be compiled, outlining the objective criteria for high court and Supreme Court appointments. The initiative aims to evaluate the top 50 judges in the country for potential elevation to the highest judicial echelons.
The existing Supreme Court Collegium system, criticized for its opacity and perceived lack of accountability, has faced demands for reform. Former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi has voiced concerns that the current process of appointing judges to the Supreme Court and high courts is incongruent with democratic principles.
While acknowledging the imperfections of institutions in a democracy, Chief Justice Chandrachud underscored the need to work within the current system to address concerns related to the Collegium system’s functioning.
