Govt's move to scrap collegium system has few takers

Officials are opposing the move saying there is no need to change the mechanism

Government's move to scrap the collegium system of appointing judges is facing opposition from the judiciary, creating prospects of further delay in setting up of a Judicial Appointment Commission in which executive seeks to have a say.

A top government functionary said that the judiciary is opposing the move to overturn the two-decade-old system, saying ther

e is no need to change the mechanism.

Outgoing Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir recently defended the collegium system, saying appointments to the higher judiciary are made after "intense deliberations".

His successor Justice P Sathasivam too has asserted that there is no need to change the collegium system.

"The CJI-designate has opposed any change to the mechanism," the functionary said while explaining why it would be difficult to scrap it in the near future.

Complicating things for the government, the Opposition is also "not playing ball", he said.

Various political parties have demanded that government should bring all bills relating to judicial reforms together.

A senior Opposition leader has also suggested a ban on post-retirement government assignments for senior judges.

With next general election now months away and Parliament failing to function due to repeated disruptions, government will find it tough to get the Constitutional amendment bill passed required to scrap the collegium system.

The functionary said government would succeed "some day if not any time soon" to bring in a new mechanism which is more "corroborative".

Law Minister Kapil Sibal had recently said that the collegium system of appointing judges has not worked to the expectations and the government must have a say in such appointments.