Indian Polity Part 5: Judiciary — Collegium vs NJAC and the Appointment Battle, Exam-Ready Notes

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Civil ExamsCivil Services1 min read

Appointment battles end 99th: from First Judges to NJAC in five steps.

On this page

  1. The case line
  2. Working of collegium
  3. Reform debate
  4. Revise in 30 seconds

The case line

  • First Judges 1981: executive primacy; Second Judges 1993: collegium born; Third Judges 1998: 5-judge collegium.
  • NJAC Act + 99th Amendment 2014: struck 2015 — basic structure, judicial independence.

Working of collegium

  • Collegium resolutions are uploaded; IB inputs are sought; reiteration by the collegium binds the government.
  • Master of the Roster and CJI alter ego: 2018 cases fixed internal administration.

Reform debate

  • Opacity of criteria, memorandum of procedure update, executive friction over appointments.

Revise in 30 seconds

  • 1993 collegium, 1998 five-member form.
  • NJAC struck: 2015.
  • Reiteration by collegium binds government.
  • Master of the roster: CJI.

Quick revision

  • First Judges 1981: executive primacy; Second Judges 1993: collegium born; Third Judges 1998: 5-judge collegium.
  • NJAC Act + 99th Amendment 2014: struck 2015 — basic structure, judicial independence.
  • Collegium resolutions are uploaded; IB inputs are sought; reiteration by the collegium binds the government.
  • Master of the Roster and CJI alter ego: 2018 cases fixed internal administration.
  • Opacity of criteria, memorandum of procedure update, executive friction over appointments.
  • 1993 collegium, 1998 five-member form.