At the Jaipur Literature Festival, former CJI DY Chandrachud called for reforms in judicial appointments, questioning if striking down NJAC was “premature” and proposing public involvement in the collegium system. Could India’s judiciary change forever?
DY Chandrachud proposes public role in collegium to strengthen judiciary
Jaipur: Former Chief Justice of India Dr DY Chandrachud on Saturday said that the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), brought in through a constitutional amendment, should have been allowed to function for some time to assess its performance, observing that striking down the amendment was “premature.”
Speaking at the Jaipur Literature Festival, the 50th CJI reflected on the far-reaching impact of judicial power, noting that courts exercise enormous authority and their judgments have the capacity to shape both the present and future of the polity and society. Given this influence, he said, society has a legitimate and vital interest in understanding how judges are appointed.
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Justice Chandrachud underlined the need for reform in the judicial appointments process at two levels. First, he stressed the importance of promoting transparency without turning the process into a public spectacle. This, he said, could be achieved by clearly publishing the parameters followed for judicial selection, disclosing the pool of candidates considered, and explaining the reasons behind final selections.
DY Chandrachud calls for judicial appointment reforms at Jaipur Literature Festival
Second, he spoke about the structural reform of the collegium system itself. Pointing out that the composition of collegiums changes frequently while judicial appointments are made for long tenures, he argued that this imbalance affects continuity and institutional stability. To address this, he suggested that some members of the collegium could be drawn from independent persons in society with a distinguished track record.
Jaipur Literature Festival | Former CJI Dr DY Chandrachud flagged concerns over Umar Khalid’s prolonged detention, stressing that the right to a speedy trial is integral to Article 21 and that bail must remain the constitutional norm unless strict exceptions apply. pic.twitter.com/aBXRidLih5
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The former CJI also flagged concerns over Umar Khalid’s prolonged detention, stressing that the right to a speedy trial is integral to Article 21 and that bail must remain the constitutional norm unless strict exceptions apply.
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Justice Chandrachud further proposed that, in addition to the existing collegium, the Chief Justice of India could indicate the induction of eminent public persons with a fixed tenure of three years. Such a measure, he said, would add stability to the collegium system and help strengthen public confidence in the judicial appointment process.
Concluding his remarks, the former CJI emphasized the need for a broader national conversation on judicial appointments, stating that sustained public engagement was essential to ensure transparency, accountability, and trust in the justice delivery system.
