Posts

Is the Collegium System Beyond Question?

Image
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...