36.Judiciary 2 Flashcards
What is the role of the Collegium?
The Collegium practically does the appointment and transfer of judges.
How did the Collegium system evolve?
The Collegium system has evolved through judgments of the Supreme Court.
Why was the Collegium system established?
The Collegium system was established to maintain the separation of powers and take away the power of Parliament to appoint judges.
What does the Collegium do in relation to judges’ appointments?
The Collegium prepares the list of judges to be appointed to the Supreme Court and High Court.
Who makes the decision on the appointment of judges?
The decision on the names of judges is taken by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court on a consensus basis.
How is the seniority of judges determined?
There is no provision in the Constitution to decide on seniority, so it is determined based on the date of joining the court.
What governs the appointment of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and judges of the Supreme Court?
The appointment of the CJI and judges of the apex court is governed by a Memorandum of Procedure.
Who appoints the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and judges of the Supreme Court?
The President appoints the CJI and judges of the Supreme Court under clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution.
How is the Chief Justice of India (CJI) selected?
The appointment to the office of the CJI should be of the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court considered fit to hold the office.
What role does the Union Law Minister play in the appointment process?
The Union Law Minister would, at an “appropriate time,” seek the recommendation of the outgoing CJI on his successor.
Who advises the President on the appointment of the Chief Justice of India (CJI)?
Once the CJI recommends a successor, the Law Minister forwards the communication to the Prime Minister, who advises the President on the appointment.
How does the appointment process work for Supreme Court judges?
In the case of an appointment of a Supreme Court judge, when a vacancy is expected to arise, the collegium recommends a candidate to the Union Law Minister.
What happens after the collegium recommends a candidate for a Supreme Court judge’s appointment?
After the receipt of the Collegium recommendation, the Law Minister forwards it to the Prime Minister, who advises the President in the matter of appointment.
What does the term “consultation” with the Chief Justice of India (CJI) require?
The term “consultation” with the CJI requires consultation with a plurality of judges in the formation of the CJI’s opinion.
Does the sole, individual opinion of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) constitute consultation?
No, the sole, individual opinion of the CJI does not constitute consultation.
With whom can the Chief Justice of India (CJI) make recommendations for the appointment of a Supreme Court judge or the transfer of a Chief Justice/puisne judge of a High Court?
The CJI can make recommendations in consultation with the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.
How does the consultation process work for recommendations regarding High Courts?
In the case of High Courts, the recommendation must be made in consultation with the two senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.
Do strong cogent reasons need to be recorded for departing from the order of seniority?
No, strong cogent reasons do not have to be recorded for a departure from the order of seniority. What needs to be recorded is the “positive reason for the recommendation.”
How should the views of the judges consulted be conveyed to the Government of India?
The views of the judges consulted should be in writing and should be conveyed to the Government of India by the CJI along with his own views.
Is the Chief Justice of India (CJI) obligated to comply with the norms and requirements of the consultation process?
Yes, the CJI is obliged to comply with the norms and requirements of the consultation process in making his recommendations.
Are recommendations by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) binding on the government without compliance with the consultation process?
No, recommendations by the CJI without compliance with the consultation process are not binding upon the government.
Under what circumstances is the transfer of High Court (HC) judges judicially reviewable?
The transfer of HC judges is judicially reviewable if the CJI made the decision without consulting the other four judges in the Supreme Court collegium or if the views of the Chief Justices of both High Courts involved in the transfer are not obtained.
Can the Chief Justice of India (CJI) act solely in his individual capacity for the non-appointment of a recommended judge?
No, the CJI is not entitled to act solely in his individual capacity without consulting other judges of the Supreme Court regarding materials and information conveyed by the Government for non-appointment.
Whom can the Chief Justice of India (CJI) consult regarding the appointment of a High Court judge to the Supreme Court or the transfer of a puisne judge?
The CJI can consult any of his colleagues on the appointment of a HC judge to the Supreme Court or the transfer of a puisne judge.
Is the consultation for appointments and transfers limited to colleagues who have occupied the office of a judge or Chief Justice of that particular High Court?
No, the consultation need not be limited to colleagues who have occupied the office of a judge or Chief Justice of that particular High Court.
What is one criticism of the Collegium system?
Critics argue that the system is non-transparent since it lacks any official mechanism or secretariat.
How is the Collegium system viewed in terms of transparency and selection procedure?
The Collegium system is seen as a closed-door affair with no prescribed norms regarding eligibility criteria or the selection procedure.
What is a consequence of the tussle among the government and collegium, and within the collegium itself?
Delayed appointments are a consequence of the tussle among the government and collegium, and within the collegium itself.
What is a criticism regarding the decision-making process of the Collegium?
There is no public knowledge of how and when a collegium meets and how it takes its decisions.
What is the concern of lawyers regarding the Collegium system?
Lawyers are usually unaware of whether their names have been considered for elevation as a judge.
What impact does the lack of transparency have on the representation of lawyers and district judges?
The lack of transparency has resulted in a low number of lawyers being elevated to the bench and fewer district judges being elevated to High Courts.
When was the Justice M N Venkatachaliah Commission formed, and what was its purpose?
The Justice M N Venkatachaliah Commission was formed in 1998-2003 to opine on whether there was a need to change the collegium system.
What was the recommendation of the Justice M N Venkatachaliah Commission?
The Commission favored a change and recommended the establishment of a National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) consisting of the CJI, two senior-most judges, the Law Minister, and an eminent person from the public.
What was the focus of the NDA-II regime regarding judicial appointments?
The NDA-II regime made NJAC one of its priorities and swiftly cleared the constitutional amendment and NJAC Act.
Which constitutional amendment was introduced in relation to the NJAC?
The 99th Amendment was introduced, amending Article 124 and adding Articles 124A, 124B, and 124C.
What was the outcome of the constitutional amendment and the NJAC Act?
In 2015, a five-judge Constitution Bench declared the 99th amendment to the constitution and the NJAC Act as unconstitutional.
How many members were there in the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC)?
The NJAC was composed of a total of six members.
Who served as the ex officio Chairperson of the NJAC?
The Chief Justice of India served as the ex officio Chairperson of the NJAC.
Which members of the Supreme Court were part of the NJAC?
Two senior-most Supreme Court Judges served as ex officio members of the NJAC.
Who was the ex officio member representing the Union Minister of Law and Justice in the NJAC?
The Union Minister of Law and Justice served as an ex officio member of the NJAC.
How were the two eminent persons from civil society selected for the NJAC?
The two eminent persons were nominated by a committee consisting of the Chief Justice of India, Prime Minister of India, and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. One of the eminent persons had to be nominated from SC/ST/OBC/minorities or women.
What was the key outcome of the 1st Judges Case (SP Gupta)?
The 1st Judges Case established that consultation does not mean concurrence.