Govt. asks SC to make collegium system for appointment of judges more transparent

The government has told the Supreme Court that collegium should not act without recording reasons why a particular individual was appointed a judge.

The government during a hearing today also stated that there should be a prescribed criteria in the public domain on the appointment of judges.

The government contended that there must be a minimum eligibility criteria for appointment as a judge in addition to the nominations made by the Chief Justice of the High Court.

Applications should also be invited for appointment as High Court judges and names of people who are being considered for appointment as judges should be made public.

The apex court heard suggestions put forth by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar and senior advocates including K K Venugopal, who had argued against the collegium system during the hearing of the matter relating to National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act which was held unconstitutional by the apex court on October 16.

A five-judge Constitution bench, headed by Justice J S Khehar, asked the parties to file written submissions by compiling the suggestions.