New Delhi: Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has called for sweeping transparency in the collegium system of judicial appointments, warning that opaque selection procedures could allow individuals who are not committed to constitutional values or who make unconstitutional and divisive public remarks to reach the Bench.
Speaking at an event in New Delhi, Justice Bhuyan said the collegium must clearly record the reasons for recommending every candidate for appointment to higher courts. He argued that failing to disclose the basis for such selections amounts to a grave injustice to other deserving judges who are overlooked without any publicly stated explanation.
The Supreme Court collegium, comprising the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most judges, traditionally conducts its deliberations in strict secrecy. Justice Bhuyan maintained that such confidentiality runs contrary to the principles of judicial transparency, asserting that citizens have a right to know how judicial appointments are made and who is being elevated to higher courts.
He also noted that some recent collegium recommendations did not disclose the actual reasons behind appointments, raising fresh concerns over accountability in the selection process.
Justice Bhuyan further criticised controversial public remarks made by certain judges in recent years, stressing that members of the judiciary must uphold the highest standards of responsibility. He cautioned that secrecy and lack of clarity in collegium proceedings can allow factors other than merit to influence appointments.
Reiterating that transparency is indispensable to preserving the judiciary's credibility, Justice Bhuyan said public confidence in the justice system can be fully safeguarded only through a more open and accountable appointment process.