SC judge calls for transparency in judicial appointments

A Supreme Court judge has publicly called for greater transparency in the judicial appointments process, warning that opaque procedures risk allowing unsuitable candidates onto the bench and undermine public confidence. Justice Ujjal Bhuyan made the remarks on August 1 while delivering a keynote address at the launch of a judicial transparency report in New Delhi.

Speaking at the event for the "Judicial Transparency Index" report by the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy's JALDI initiative, Justice Bhuyan criticized the Supreme Court collegium's recent practice of not providing reasons for its recommendations. He noted that the last three collegium resolutions contained no justification for proposed elevations, a departure from earlier statements that offered at least brief supporting reasons. He questioned whether this represented a step back from transparency principles.

Justice Bhuyan argued that withholding reasons does a disservice to outstanding judges who deserve recognition for their work. More critically, he stated that such opacity creates space for individuals with views contrary to constitutional values to enter the judiciary. While not naming anyone, he alluded to a...