Justice Datta Defends Collegium, Says Judiciary Plays Second Fiddle To Executive
· India · Times of India, The Hindu, Hindustan Times
Supreme Court Justice Dipankar Dutta rejected the claim that judges appoint judges, stating the judiciary actually plays second fiddle to the executive in judicial appointments. Speaking in New Delhi on September 23, 2026, he argued that the government's criticism of the collegium is a feeble attempt to deflect from its own failures. He pointed to the government's selective implementation of collegium recommendations, noting that while most names are approved, at least one is invariably withheld. Justice Dutta defended the collegium's detailed consultative process, which involves central and state governments, intelligence agencies, and final presidential approval. He acknowledged that aberrations in appointments exist but stated no human system can guarantee infallibility.
Why it matters
The debate directly affects how India's judges are appointed, with the collegium's authority and the executive's compliance shaping the composition of the judiciary. The selective non-implementation of collegium resolutions by the government undermines the sanctity of the appointment process.
Read the original report — Times of India
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