Supreme Court Collegium interviews 54 candidates in two days to address High Court vacancies and enhance judicial scrutiny.
Why in News
Supreme Court Collegium holds HC candidate interviews to speed up Judicial Appointments amid rising vacancies .
Fact
The Supreme Court Collegium interacted with 54 candidates over two days to fill High Court vacancies .
Overview
In a major push to address mounting High Court vacancies, the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai along with Justices Surya Kant and Vikram Nath, interviewed 54 candidates from across various states . These Judicial Appointments are meant for High Courts including Madhya Pradesh, Patna, Allahabad, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Gauhati and Delhi .
The interviews were conducted on July 1 and 2, with 20 candidates interviewed on the first day and 34 on the second . This reflects a shift toward a more in-depth and personal evaluation of prospective judges by the Supreme Court of India .
Key Aspects
The key aspects relating to the case are as under –
- 54 High Court candidates were interviewed in 2 days .
- Interviews lasted from a few minutes to half an hour depending on the candidate .
- Conducted amid ongoing controversies regarding judicial conduct .
- 371 High Court judge posts remain vacant as of July 1, 2025 .
- Cases of Justice Yashwant Varma and Justice Shekhar Yadav raised concerns about selection quality .
Legal Insights
The legal insights relating to the case are as under-
- Article 217 : Deals with appointment of High Court judges by the President, in consultation with the Collegium .
- The Second and Third Judges Cases affirmed judicial primacy in appointments via the Supreme Court Collegium .
- Emphasis on judicial integrity and transparency post recent allegations .
- Aligns with the constitutional principle of separation of powers and judicial independence .
Conclusion
With 371 vacancies in the High Courts, this renewed approach by the Supreme Court Collegium marks a decisive step towards strengthening the Judicial Appointments process . The involvement of the Supreme Court of India in conducting structured interviews aims to ensure the selection of qualified, ethical and competent judges restoring public trust in the system .
Source- Supreme Court of India
Read also – Article 217 of Indian Constitution
