The judiciary s  between a rock and hard place moment, Pg 6

Case Triggering Judicial Review

• Incident at Justice Yashwant Varma s residence raised questions; CJI convened Collegium, but judiciary refrained from judicial action.
• Public criticism grew over lack of transparency and internal oversight.

Collegium System & Executive Influence

• Current collegium system is critiqued for being opaque, lacking accountability, and vulnerable to executive manipulation.
• Government has delayed judicial appointments despite recommendations, especially of those not aligned with ruling ideology.

Concerns about Judicial Independence

• Critics argue that repeated delays in appointments, without explanation, undermine judicial independence.
• Suggestions to expand Collegium or include independent constitutional authorities remain unimplemented.

Need for Institutional Reform

• Alternatives like Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) proposed, but NJAC struck down in 2015.
• Experts suggest including external checks to improve objectivity and reduce executive interference.

Analysis & Way Forward

• The Varma case reflects deep flaws in internal judicial governance and executive interference.
• A reformed appointments system that ensures transparency, wider representation, and judicial independence is needed.

Mains Mock Question:

"Critically examine the limitations of the collegium system in India. Suggest reforms to ensure transparency and independence in judicial appointments."