The new Chief Justice of India (CJI) RM Lodha hopes to bring in transparency in appointment of judges and ensure that ‘good judges’ are selected through wider consultation.
Speaking after his swearing-in ceremony on Sunday, the 41st CJI said: “My first priority will be to appoint good judges (to the SC and HCs). My mantra is: appoint good judges and rest will follow. If we have good judges then we will have an entire new complexion of judiciary in the next 7 or 8 years.”
For better and more transparent selection, Justice Lodha said he was in favour of widening consultation process beyond the collegium system for appointment of judges. He, however, clarified that it would be done without “tinkering” with the set procedure.
“Consultations will be done with two to three judges outside the collegium and with two to three lawyers of impeccable integrity,” the new CJI said, adding that he would act on this immediately. “This (wider consultation) is only for additional inputs,” he added.
He, however, defended the opaque collegium system, saying, “Other than it (collegium system), there is no other suitable system (for selecting judges).”
Justice Lodha, 64, who replaces Justice P Sathasivam, will have a brief tenure of five months, as he is set to retire on September 27 this year.
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