In a significant endorsement of India's judicial appointment process, Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant has observed that the collegium system, despite its imperfections, serves as an important safeguard for the judiciary against interference from both the executive and the legislature.

Speaking at an event hosted by Seattle University, USA, last week, Justice Kant asserted that the collegium system plays a vital role in preserving judicial autonomy in India.

“The collegium system developed in India is a compelling model of the substantive application of the doctrine of separation of powers, which ensures that the judiciary retains control over judicial appointments,” Justice Kant remarked during his address.

While acknowledging that the system has drawn sustained criticism—particularly due to concerns about its opacity—Justice Kant pointed to recent initiatives by the Supreme Court that signal a growing commitment to enhancing transparency in the appointment process.

Justice Kant’s remarks come amid an ongoing public and institutional debate over judicial appointments, with critics arguing that the collegium operates behind closed doors, and proponents defending it as a bulwark against external pressures.

By affirming the collegium’s value as a shield for judicial independence, Justice Kant’s intervention adds weight to arguments that reforms aimed at improving transparency should not come at the cost of the judiciary’s institutional autonomy.