Collegium Method Fails As Being Opaque Mechanism : Center

07 May, New Delhi

Putting up a strong case for the new system of judges appointment, the Centre Wednesday submitted before the Supreme Court that the collegium method has failed because it was an opaque mechanism which has stifled democracy.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi attacked the collegium system and demanded a revisit of the 1993 verdict by a larger bench, the court indicated that it can take a call on the issue even before his arguments are over.

Continuing his arguments before a five-judge bench hearing the challenge to the National Judicial Appointment Commission (NJAC) Act, Mr Rohatgi asserted that there was a lack of transparency in the previous system which has been evident from the fact that even under the RTI law entire information on the working of collegium system was not forthcoming.

The Attorney General told the bench headed by Justice JS Khehar and demanded the matter be referred to a larger bench than the nine-judges bench that gave the 1993 verdict.