Judge Bhuyan questions SC collegium’s opacity
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan questioned the Supreme Court collegium's lack of transparency in judicial appointments. He noted that recent collegium resolutions provided no reasons for their decisions. This opacity, he argued, could allow unsuitable individuals to enter the judiciary. Citizens possess a right to know deliberations concerning judicial elevations and transfers. The JALDI report highlights…
India's Supreme Court Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has expressed concerns over the lack of transparency in the collegium's decisions on judicial appointments. Speaking at a panel discussion, Justice Bhuyan questioned the absence of reasons in the last three collegium resolutions, suggesting it may weaken the principle of transparency.
He warned that withholding reasons allows individuals who may make unconstitutional remarks to enter the judiciary. The judge emphasized the need for discussions and reasons to be provided, particularly to prevent the entry of such individuals. The issue of judicial transparency was further highlighted in the launch of the Judicial Transparency Index, a study by the Justice, Access and Lowering Delays in India (JALDI) Initiative.
The report, the first of its kind, assessed transparency practices across India's higher judiciary, focusing on disclosure of information by the Supreme Court and high courts. Key findings reveal that only five high courts have published a budget for FY 2025-26, and none have published case allocation criteria. Only 87 out of 813 judges have disclosed their assets, and only two high courts publish disciplinary sanction orders for district judicial officers. The report emphasizes the need for a more comprehensive approach to judicial transparency.
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