SC Collegium Elevates 4 Judges as Chief Justices: Justice V. Kameswar Rao to Patna HC

SC Collegium Divided on Acting Chief Justice's Power to Appoint HC Judges - 2026 Case

The Supreme Court Collegium faces a recurring question: can Acting Chief Justices of High Courts recommend names for judicial appointments? The controversy over Rajasthan HC's Acting CJ Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma's recommendations has revived the debate, with the Collegium divided on whether to accept such names or insist on a permanent Chief Justice. This has implications for the independence and efficiency of judicial appointments.

Rajya Sabha Passes Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill 2026, Raising Judge Strength to 38

The Rajya Sabha has cleared the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, raising the apex court's sanctioned strength from 34 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India. The Bill replaces a May ordinance, but Opposition MPs questioned the ordinance route and highlighted the persistent diversity deficit in judicial appointments. This is a high-yield Polity topic for Prelims and Mains, with concrete data on SC/ST/OBC/minority/women representation and judiciary infrastructure.

Supreme Court Collegium to Fill 4 Vacancies; Gender and CJI Succession Criteria Examined

The Supreme Court Collegium, after completing appointments of regular Chief Justices to all 25 High Courts, now focuses on filling 4 vacancies in the Supreme Court. The selection will consider gender representation (only 3 women HC Chief Justices) and potential CJI succession. Aspirants must note the current strength (34 judges) and upcoming retirements of Justice Satish Chandra Sharma (Nov 29, 2026) and CJI Surya Kant (Feb 9, 2027).

Supreme Court Split Verdict: Justice Dipankar Datta Terms Centre's Remarks on Collegium 'Disquieting'

In a split verdict, Justice Dipankar Datta of the Supreme Court strongly defended the collegium system, terming the Centre's oral criticism as 'disingenuous, evasive and disquieting'. The judgment reaffirms the judiciary's independence in appointments and warns against undermining institutional integrity. Essential for UPSC Polity (Judicial Appointments, Separation of Powers).

Madras HC Directs TN Chief Secretary to Form Panel on POCSO, Juvenile Justice Gaps

The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to form a committee of Home, Health, and Law Secretaries to address systemic gaps in implementing the POCSO and Juvenile Justice Acts. The court made key suggestions including gender-neutral application of POCSO, avoiding criminalizing consensual adolescent relationships, and establishing protocols for medical termination of pregnancy and child witness deposition rooms. This is crucial for UPSC aspirants as it touches upon child rights, judicial activism, and state governance.

Punjab Refuses Consent for HC Chief Justice Appointment; MoP Breach Raises Judicial Appointment Process Concerns

Punjab's refusal to consent to Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra's appointment as Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana HC exposes a loophole in the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) for judicial appointments. The episode underscores the need for defined timelines for state responses in judicial appointments, a key issue for UPSC Polity and Governance.

Judges (Inquiry) Act 1968 Invoked: Panel Finds Unexplained Cash at Justice Varma’s Residence, Report Tabled in Parliament

A three-member parliamentary inquiry committee under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 has found that former Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma failed to explain the source of cash bundles discovered in his official residence after a fire. This is a rare invocation of the judicial removal mechanism, making it crucial for understanding the process of judicial accountability and the role of Parliament in the impeachment of judges.

SC Collegium Opacity: 30% Judges with Familial Links, Demand for Transparency in Appointments

The article argues that the collegium system for judicial appointments lacks transparency, citing nepotism (30% SC judges with familial links) and the recent withdrawal of reasoned resolutions. It calls for reforms like publishing vacancies, criteria, and reasoned recommendations, while preserving confidentiality on integrity.