Justice Dipankar Datta’s Powerful Remarks on the Collegium System: A Call for Transparency and Integrity in Judicial Appointments

During a public event organized by the High Court Bar Association in Nagpur to felicitate the Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, Supreme Court judge Justice Dipankar Datta made strong and thought-provoking remarks regarding the Collegium System the method used in India to appoint judges to the higher judiciary. Addressing one of the most frequent criticisms, he stated that calling it simply a system of “judges appointing judges” is a serious misunderstanding. He explained that if the judiciary truly had full control over appointments, then every recommendation made by the Collegium would be approved without delay. However, in reality, many recommendations remain pending for years, revealing that external factors influence the process. Sharing a personal example from his tenure in the Calcutta High Court Collegium in 2019, Justice Datta pointed out that a recommendation for appointing an advocate as a High Court judge still has not been acted upon, even after six years. He attributed this delay to external forces outside the judiciary and stressed the urgent need to deal with such interference firmly and without compromise.

Justice Datta called on the current Chief Justice and the judiciary to work towards bringing greater transparency to the Collegium system to help reshape public perception and restore faith in the process. He emphasized that judicial appointments must be based solely on merit and not be influenced by politics, pressure, or favouritism. In a broader message to the judiciary, he urged judges to uphold five core values: Dharma (doing what is right), Satya (truth), Niti (adhering to the Constitution and laws), Nyay (delivering justice), and Shanti (maintaining peace in society). According to him, these values are not merely philosophical ideals but essential guiding principles that safeguard the credibility and fairness of the Indian judiciary. His remarks served as a powerful reminder of the need to protect the independence of the judiciary and ensure that its processes remain free from external influence and grounded in ethical integrity.