Supreme’s seal on collegium system Justice BR Gavai said this is the best for India, questions being raised on transparency are wrong – ..

News India Live, Digital Desk: Amidst the long-running debate regarding the appointment of judges in the country, senior Supreme Court judge Justice BR Gavai has given a big statement. Justice Gavai has strongly supported the existing ‘Collegium System’ and has described it as the most suitable for India’s democratic system. He rejected the criticism that the collegium system was opaque or a closed-door process. This statement of Justice Gavai is being seen as an important stand amid the ongoing tussle between the judiciary and the government over the appointment process.

Why is collegium system the best? Justice Gavai’s argument

Speaking during a public event, Justice BR Gavai said that in the present circumstances there can be no better system than the Collegium for the appointment of judges. He clarified that utmost care is taken in this process and the qualifications and integrity of the candidate are thoroughly scrutinized. Justice Gavai emphasized that the collegium system ensures that the independence of the judiciary is maintained and there is no outside interference. According to him, this system has stood the test of time.

Gave a befitting reply to allegations of transparency

It is often alleged that judges are selected secretly in the collegium system. Commenting on this, Justice Gavai said that the discussions held during appointments cannot be made public, but this does not necessarily mean that there is a lack of transparency in the process. He said that there are concrete reasons behind the decisions of the collegium and reports of institutions like Intelligence Bureau (IB). He also reiterated that there is always room for improvement in the system, but changing it completely is not the solution.

Independence of judiciary is the identity of democracy

Justice Gavai said in his address that it is essential for the judiciary to be independent for a strong democracy. If the power to appoint judges goes completely to the executive (government), it may affect judicial impartiality. The collegium system works to maintain this balance. Referring to the future challenges, he said that the biggest need of the present is to focus on increasing the number of judges and disposal of pending cases.