Appointment of judges: Centre proposes formation of Search Committee with 1 government nominee to assist Supreme Court Collegium

The Central government has told the Rajya Sabha that it has proposed the formation of a Search-cum-Evaluation Committee, having one government nominee, to help both the Supreme Court Collegium, as well as High Court Collegiums, in the appointment of judges.

Replying to a question during the Question Hour, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said that the formation of Search-cum-Evaluation Committees at both the Supreme Court and High Court levels would bring transparency in the system.

These committees would prepare a panel of eligible candidates, from which the respective Collegiums could make recommendations, he added.

Rijiju said the Central government had sent the proposal to the Supreme Court by way of a letter on January 6, which also had called for the finalisation of the Memorandum of Practice (MoP) for the appointment of judges.

He said the proposed committee, along with other measures, would pave the way for a more transparent, accountable and expeditious mechanism for appointment of Judges to the Constitutional Courts.