Only 6% of High Court Judge Recommendations in Last 2.5 Years Were Related to Judges
Only 6% of High Court Judge Recommendations in Last 2.5 Years Were Related to Judges
In a significant development, it has been revealed that only 6% of the names recommended for High Court judgeships in the past two and a half years had familial ties to sitting or retired judges. This statistic underscores the judiciary’s commitment to merit-based appointments and reducing nepotism in the selection process.
The Collegium System and Its Role
The appointment of judges to the High Courts and the Supreme Court in India is governed by the collegium system, wherein a group of the senior-most judges recommends candidates for elevation. This system aims to maintain the independence of the judiciary by minimizing external influences.
Between November 2022 and May 2025, the collegium recommended 184 individuals for elevation to the High Courts. Of these, only 11 (approximately 6%) had familial ties to sitting or former judges, signaling a shift toward merit-based selections.
A Shift Toward Meritocracy
The fact that only 6% of the recommended names were related to judges demonstrates a conscious effort to move away from favoritism and promote competence and experience in judicial appointments. This is a positive sign for the judiciary’s growing focus on transparency and fairness.
This change also reflects an effort to address past concerns of nepotism that plagued the selection process.
Social Representation and Diversity
While this shift is encouraging, social representation in the judiciary remains a concern. Reports indicate that from 2018 to December 2022, 79% of the High Court judges appointed were from upper-caste backgrounds. In comparison, only 2.8% came from Scheduled Castes, and 1.3% from Scheduled Groups. These figures reflect an ongoing imbalance in the representation of marginalized communities.
The government has acknowledged these concerns. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has urged High Court Chief Justices to consider candidates from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Groups, Other Backward Classes, women, and religious minorities to ensure greater diversity within the judiciary.
Read more on this topic in the Times of India.
Gender Representation in the Judiciary
Gender diversity remains another area that requires improvement. As of December 2023, women made up only 13.8% of the judges in India’s High Courts and Supreme Court. Despite some progress in recent years, women are still significantly underrepresented in the judiciary.
The collegium has made concerted efforts to recommend more women for judicial appointments, but societal and institutional challenges persist. Further reforms are needed to ensure equal representation of women in higher judiciary positions.
Learn more about gender representation in the judiciary from this Business Standard article.
Executive and Judicial Coordination
Not all names recommended by the collegium are approved by the Union government. In fact, during Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud’s tenure, 15.4% of the proposed names were either delayed or rejected by the executive. This highlights the sometimes complex relationship between the judiciary and the executive.
Despite these challenges, the collegium system continues to be a critical part of maintaining judicial independence in India.
For more on this topic, refer to the Supreme Court Observer.
Public Trust and the Road Ahead
Public trust in the judiciary is essential for a functioning democracy. By reducing familial appointments and focusing on merit, the judiciary is working to strengthen public confidence. However, significant challenges remain, particularly in achieving greater social, regional, and gender representation.
Conclusion
The fact that only 6% of High Court judge recommendations in the past 2.5 years were related to judges is a step in the right direction. It reflects a conscious move towards merit-based appointments and transparency in the judicial selection process.
However, the judiciary must continue to focus on increasing representation from underrepresented groups, ensuring gender equality, and improving the efficiency of the appointment process. Only by making these changes will the judiciary truly reflect the diversity of the nation it serves.
