Speaking at the 6th Ram Jethmalani Memorial Lecture, Senior Advocate Harish Salve asked why no criminal case was registered after burnt cash was found at a judge’s residence, and argued that judicial independence cannot mean immunity from accountability. Justice Varma denies wrongdoing and no criminal charge has ever been brought.
Justice P.S. Narasimha is set to join the Supreme Court Collegium after the retirement of Justice J.K. Maheshwari, becoming its fifth senior-most member. He will remain part of the Collegium until his retirement on May 2, 2028, playing a key role in judicial appointments.
Arvind Malhotra, Principal Judge of the Family Court in Dharamshala, has approached the Supreme Court challenging the recommendation of three judicial officers for elevation to the Himachal Pradesh High Court, alleging that officers junior to him were preferred despite his seniority.
The Supreme Court Collegium approved twelve judicial appointment proposals across the Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab and Haryana High Courts, including promotions of judicial officers, elevation of advocates to the bench, and regularization of additional judges to strengthen judicial capacity.
The Supreme Court told the Delhi High Court that it does not maintain judge-wise records of corruption or misconduct complaints. The Court said collecting such information would require diverting significant resources and may also be exempt under the RTI Act.
Former CJI B R Gavai said the collegium system is currently the most suitable for India despite its flaws. He also urged the government to implement the National Litigation Policy to reduce court pendency.
Supreme Court Justice Dipankar Datta said the Collegium did not always protect judges who showed courage and integrity in the past. He warned that lack of protection may discourage judges from choosing ethics over career growth.
Today, On 23rd February, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant sternly rebuked Advocate Mathews Nedumpara for reckless submissions while mentioning a petition challenging the collegium system. Warning him of strict action, CJI said, “Be careful… you have seen me in Chandigarh and Delhi.”
The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended Orissa High Court Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo for appointment as Chief Justice of the Patna High Court. The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by CJI Surya Kant on December 18.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has said that judicial appointments under the Collegium system will strongly prioritise merit, integrity, experience, and the right judicial temperament. He emphasised balanced transparency in the appointment process while safeguarding institutional integrity.
