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2 August 2026

Judicial appointments and Collegium transparency

The topic addresses the core constitutional debate surrounding the Collegium system, judicial accountability, and transparency, which are frequently examined through landmark judgments like Subhash Chandra Agarwal and the functioning of constitutional bodies.

1 min read Day 2 of 10 2 questions 1 prelims

Notes

  • Justice Ujjal Bhuyan highlighted concerns regarding the lack of transparency in the Supreme Court Collegium's judicial appointment process.
  • The absence of recorded reasons for recommendations is cited as a potential loophole that may allow candidates with problematic records to enter the judiciary.
  • The Collegium has recently shifted towards opacity, with recent statements lacking the reasoning provided in earlier recommendations.
  • The Judicial Transparency Index, launched by the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, assesses information disclosure by the Supreme Court and High Courts.
  • The Supreme Court's July 24 order distinguishes between transparency through livestreaming and the misuse of decontextualised fragments of court proceedings.
  • Livestreaming of court proceedings is identified as a key development for transparency, accountability, and public access to justice.
  • The 2018 Swapnil Tripathi judgment established that livestreaming expands the courtroom and promotes good governance.
  • The 2020 Central Public Information Officer, Supreme Court of India v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal judgment affirmed that transparency does not threaten judicial independence.

Part of a longer story

This is day 2 of 10 in Supreme Court Collegium transparency and appointment process, which has been running since 29 June 2026. Reading it whole is usually worth more than reading today alone — the exam asks how something developed.

Questions

  1. Discuss the significance of judicial transparency in maintaining public trust in the judiciary, with reference to the role of the Collegium system. 150 words
    Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00
  2. The integration of technology in court proceedings, such as livestreaming, is essential for accountability. Critically examine the balance between ensuring transparency and preventing the distortion of judicial processes. 250 words
    Attempt this — 250 words in 11 min
    0 / 250 words 11:00

Prelims

  1. Which Supreme Court judgment held that livestreaming of court proceedings expands the courtroom beyond its physical walls and promotes accountability?

Syllabus

Topics

Sources

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-08-02/judicial-appointments-and-collegium-transparency