CJI Surya Kant defends confidentiality of Collegium dissent at CNLU interaction

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant defended keeping dissenting views private within the Supreme Court's Collegium, stating disclosure could put judges and candidates at risk. During an open-house session at Chanakya National Law University in Patna, Justice Kant discussed the right to peaceful protest, financial support for first-generation lawyers, and proposed changes to legal education.

The event was organized by CNLU students seeking direct engagement. Concerns over police actions during campus protests were raised, to which Kant reaffirmed the judiciary's commitment to protecting peaceful expression. Kant acknowledged the financial difficulties faced by aspiring advocates, proposing a dedicated professional assistance fund, citing the Sarika Tyagi case as precedent.

On legal education reform, Kant endorsed CNLU Vice-Chancellor's proposal to skip the five-year integrated program and replace it with four years of study and a mandatory judicial apprenticeship. This approach aims to fuse academic learning with practical courtroom experience, eliminating the separate bar practice requirement. Kant, along with Patna High Court Chief Justice and CNLU Chancellor Justice V. Kameswar Rao, supported enhancing judicial clerkships and increasing stipends and research infrastructure to attract talent and make judicial service more competitive.