Justice Bhuyan flags 76-year absence of 'distinguished jurists' on SC bench

Supreme Court judge Ujjal Bhuyan has argued for the appointment of distinguished jurists to the high court, stating that it would bring diversity and scholarly input to the decision-making process. Bhuyan noted that the Constitution permits such appointments, but there has been no instance of a jurist being appointed to the Supreme Court in the past 76 years, despite the provision being available for over seven decades.

He suggested that the lack of appointments may be due to the absence of capable academics or a failure to thoroughly explore the provision. Bhuyan dismissed the notion that legal scholars lack practical experience, pointing out that distinguished academics are appointed as judges in various countries, including the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Kenya.

The judge made these remarks at the 13th convocation ceremony for postgraduate students at the National Law University in Delhi, emphasizing that the Supreme Court, as a guardian of India's moral, legal, and constitutional conscience, should reflect the country's diversity. He also highlighted that university professors can significantly contribute to the judiciary by bringing their academic expertise and scholarship to the bench, thereby addressing public law issues more effectively.