K.Chandru Former Highcourt Judge: Linked In post by Harshad Shah, CA.

[26/07, 05:58] K.Chandru Former Highcourt Judge: Linked In post by Harshad Shah, CA.

Conflicting interests in India’s judiciary

Out of every 3 judges in India, one judge is another judge’s uncle, nephew, son, or relative. India’s 70-year-old judicial system is revolving in only 350 families, they elect judges together.
Around 50% of high court judges and 33% of Supreme Court judges are family members of those in the “higher echelons of judiciary,” claims research by a Mumbai-based lawyer. Supreme Court verdicts in the 1990s led to the establishment of the collegium system, which has “monopolised” appointments to the higher judiciary, favoring kith and kin, as well as prominent figures like former and sitting judges, governors, chief ministers, law ministers, and elite lawyers. The report cites over 88 judges from 13 high courts with familial ties to the legal profession.
Critics of the collegium system, including some insiders who label it opaque, argue that lineage has been a significant factor in appointing Constitution court judges. Currently, six Supreme Court judges have fathers who served as SC or HC judges. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud’s father was the 16th CJI of India, Justice K.M. Joseph’s father was an SC judge, and Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s father and uncle held high judicial positions. Justice B.V. Nagarathna, poised to become the first woman CJI in 2027, is the daughter of former CJI E.S. Venkataramiah. Justices P.S. Narasimha and Sudhanshu Dhulia also have fathers who were high court judges.
Other notable judges with legal lineage include Justice Bela Trivedi, whose father was a judge, and SC judges whose fathers were eminent lawyers, such as Justices M.R. Shah, A. Rastogi, Dinesh Maheshwari, A.S. Oka, Vikram Nath, and J.B. Pardiwala. Justice Sanjay K. Kaul hails from a distinguished lineage with ancestors in high positions in Kashmir royalty, while Justice B.R. Gavai’s father was a renowned parliamentarian and former governor, and Justice A.S. Bopanna’s father was a politician in Karnataka’s Janata Party.

Legislative and Executive are accountable to People through parliament and they go back to voters every 5 years.
Judiciary is one of the pillar of Indian democracy. But there is no clarity as to whom are they accountable?
What about judiciary?
While their appointments are with President that is procedural but whom are they reporting & accountable to: Parliament or people? No clarity?

India is the only country in the world to implement “undeclared reservation” of “familyism” in the judiciary!
Reform judiciary.
[26/07, 07:43] sekarreporter1: .