The Supreme Court collegium started meeting lawyers being considered for High Court judgeship for the first time. To reduce nepotism, they are avoiding recommending candidates who have close relatives in the judiciary and are giving more chances to first-generation lawyers. These meetings help assess candidates’ suitability better. This step aims to make judicial appointments fairer and more transparent.
New Delhi: To address concerns that family connections often overshadow merit in judicial appointments, a collegium judge recently suggested that high court collegiums avoid recommending lawyers or judicial officers with close relatives serving as judges in the Supreme Court or high courts.
This proposal quickly received support from other collegium members, including Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices B.R. Gavai, Surya Kant, Hrishikesh Roy, and A.S. Oka.
While they acknowledged that some deserving candidates from judicial families might be overlooked, they believe these individuals can still succeed as lawyers.
This approach aims to create more opportunities for first-generation lawyers to become judges, increasing diversity and representation in the Supreme Court and high courts.
In a related move, the collegium, including the Chief Justice and Justices Gavai and Kant, started personally meeting lawyers and judicial officers recommended for high court judge positions. This step ensures a better assessment of their qualifications and suitability.
Recently, they interacted with candidates proposed for judgeships in the Allahabad, Bombay, and Rajasthan high courts and forwarded the names of those found eligible to the Centre on December 22.
Earlier, the collegium relied only on biodata, intelligence reports, and feedback from governors and chief ministers. These direct meetings now allow a clearer evaluation of candidates’ demeanor and readiness for judicial roles, according to Supreme Court sources.
The collegium system, responsible for judicial appointments in higher courts in India, consists of the Chief Justice of India along with several senior judges of the Supreme Court. Traditionally, this system has utilized comprehensive biodata, intelligence assessments, and insights from governors and chief ministers to review candidates proposed by high court collegiums for judicial positions.
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Nonetheless, the collegium has faced criticism for its lack of transparency and insufficient direct evaluation processes.
Sources within the Supreme Court indicate that these meetings offer a more comprehensive understanding of candidates’ qualifications for judicial positions. On December 22, the collegium submitted the names of those considered suitable to the Central government, demonstrating a more informed approach to decision-making.
The Supreme Court collegium’s initiative to engage directly with candidates for high court judgeships marks a significant advancement in India’s judicial framework. This effort aims to combat nepotism, enhance diversity, and ensure selections are based on merit, thereby bolstering public trust in the judiciary.