The "Collegium System" of appointment of judges is popularly referred to as judges-selecting-judges. The "Colegium System" was formed the Supreme Court in 1990s in which a boky of senior apex court judges headed by thge Chief justice of India selected persons and recommended their names for appointment as judges. Under the 22-year old court framed collegium system of appointment and transfer of judges of high court and apex court, the chief justice of thr honourable high court and two other senior most judges of the court consist of a collegium empowered by virtue of a 1993 judgement of the apex court to identify appropriate condidates, do due diligence and recommend for the appointment as judges of the court, The shortlisted candidates are look into by a collegium of five senior most judes of the apex co0urt chaired by the Chief justice of India before being cleared for appointment. The same collegium of the apex court identifies serving judges and chief justice of high court for elevation to the Supreme Court. There is no mention of the Collegium in original Constitution of India.
Why is the sollegium System" being criticised?
The central government has criticised it saying it has created an imperium in imperio (empire within empire) within the apex court.
the supreme court Bar Association has blamed it for creating a 'give-and-take' culture creating a rift between the hoves and have-nots.
