What's going on with Collegium Transparency Debate

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan of the Supreme Court backed more transparency in the collegium's operation, releasing a report on the Judicial Transparency Index.

Bhuyan noted that recent collegium resolutions lack reasons for recommending elevations, questioning if this is a step back from transparency.

He said withholding reasons disservices outstanding judges and creates space for individuals who may make unconstitutional remarks.

Bhuyan cited three recent Supreme Court collegium statements without reasons for elevations, contrasting with earlier detailed resolutions.

He also noted that collegium deliberations remain confidential, and criteria are not codified in a publicly accessible instrument like the Memorandum of Procedure.

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan of the Supreme Court has urged greater transparency in Collegium appointments.

He criticized the lack of reasons given for decisions in the Collegium system.

Bhuyan has consistently raised questions about institutional accountability, including on dissent and free speech.

Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan flagged the opacity of the collegium system for judge appointments and transfers.

He stated that the collegium system runs contrary to judicial transparency.

Justice Bhuyan asserted that citizens have a right to know who their judges are.

He noted that reasons for appointments are rarely disclosed.

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan questioned the Supreme Court collegium's lack of transparency in judicial appointments, noting that the last three collegium resolutions contained no reasons.

He argued that withholding reasons could allow unsuitable individuals to enter the judiciary, referencing an Allahabad high court judge's 2024 remark about 'ants'.

Bhuyan said citizens have a right to know deliberations on elevation and transfer of judges, and that these should be in the public domain.

He spoke at the launch of the Judicial Transparency Index by the JALDI Initiative at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, the first systematic study on transparency in India's higher courts.

He also highlighted that despite a collegium resolution reiterating Saurabh Kirpal's appointment, no appointment has materialized after more than three and a half years.