Is the Collegium System Beyond Question?
The Collegium system —where judges appoint judges—is often presented as sacrosanct. But should it be immune to public scrutiny and debate? After all, in a democracy, no institution should be above accountability, especially one tasked with upholding justice. In 2015 , the Supreme Court struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) —a constitutional attempt to reform judicial appointments—on the grounds that it violated the “ basic structure doctrine ” (judicial independence). But critics ask: Does independence mean insulation from accountability? Nepotism or Merit? There is growing criticism that the judiciary is becoming hereditary : A study by Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy (2016) found that nearly 50% of Supreme Court judges had close relatives in the legal profession. Names of children or relatives of former judges, politicians, or senior advocates frequently come up for elevation. Question : Does this trend represent India’s diversi...