Judicial Appointments Debate
The Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, during Constitution Day celebrations on November 26, 2025, addressed the topic of judicial appointments in the country.
Plea to Revive NJAC
- A plea was submitted to the Supreme Court to reconsider the revival of the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC).
- The NJAC was initially struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015 for being unconstitutional.
- The plea argues that the striking down of NJAC was a "great wrong" as it replaced the will of the people with the opinion of four judges.
Criticism of the Collegium System
- The plea criticizes the current Collegium system for being synonymous with nepotism and favoritism.
- It argues that there is a lack of transparency in the appointments to the higher judiciary.
- The expression "riddle wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma" from Winston Churchill was used to describe the Collegium system.
Role of Parliament
- The plea highlights that the Parliament, representing the will of the people, enacted the 99th Constitutional Amendment Act and the NJAC Act.
- These enactments were quashed by the Supreme Court, which is argued to have reduced Parliament to an inferior tribunal.
