{"id":74196,"date":"2025-11-20T15:07:06","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T09:37:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=74196"},"modified":"2025-11-20T15:49:22","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T10:19:22","slug":"national-judicial-appointments-commission-njac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/national-judicial-appointments-commission-njac\/","title":{"rendered":"National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), Compositions, Functions"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) was introduced as a constitutional body to reform the existing collegium system for appointing judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts. It aimed to make the process more transparent, participatory, and accountable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the Supreme Court struck it down in 2015, restoring the collegium system. For UPSC aspirants, understanding NJAC\u2019s provisions, composition, issues, and the judicial review that followed is essential for Polity, Governance, and current affairs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) and 99th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2014<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The<\/span><b> 99th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2014<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> established the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) as an independent constitutional body designed to replace the existing <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/collegium-system-and-appointments\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>collegium system<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Its purpose was to introduce a more transparent, broad-based, and accountable mechanism for appointing judges to the <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/supreme-court-of-india\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Supreme Court<\/strong><\/a> and High Courts in India. Through this Act, Articles 124A, 124B, and 124C were inserted into the Constitution, formally establishing the NJAC as a constitutional body responsible for recommending appointments and transfers of judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Created a <\/span><b>six-member constitutional body<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> called the NJAC to oversee appointments of judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Replaced the <\/span><b>collegium system<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which was previously responsible for judicial appointments.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inserted <\/span><b>Articles 124A to 124C<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, defining the NJAC\u2019s composition, powers, and procedures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provided for the inclusion of two <\/span><b>eminent persons<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the Law Minister, and senior judges to ensure broader participation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aimed to promote <\/span><b>transparency, accountability, and checks and balances<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the judicial appointment process.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Judicial Appointments Constitutional Provisions<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Judicial appointments in India are governed by Articles 124, 217, and 222 of the Constitution. These provisions outline how Supreme Court and High Court judges are appointed and transferred.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Article 124 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deals with the appointment of Supreme Court judges, including the Chief Justice of India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Article 217 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provides for the appointment of High Court judges.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Article 222 &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Allows for the transfer of High Court judges by the President after consultation with the CJI.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Article 368 &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Amended to add the NJAC through the <\/span><b>99th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2014<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Article 124A-124C <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; Inserted to establish NJAC and define its composition and powers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Composition<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) was envisioned as a <\/span><b>six-member constitutional body <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">combining judicial, executive, and independent voices. This structure was designed to diversify decision-making authority so that no single institution could dominate. The inclusion of eminent persons was meant to represent civil society and reduce insularity in judicial appointments.<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 90.1949%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"tb-color\" style=\"text-align: center; width: 93.2088%;\" colspan=\"3\"><b>National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Composition<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 29.864%; text-align: center;\"><b>Member<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 47.2684%; text-align: center;\"><b>Details<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.0764%; text-align: center;\"><b>Nature<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 29.864%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/chief-justice-of-india\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Chief Justice of India<\/strong><\/a> (Chairperson)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 47.2684%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sitting CJI<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.0764%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ex-officio<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 29.864%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two senior-most Supreme Court judges<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 47.2684%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Next two senior judges after CJI<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.0764%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ex-officio<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 29.864%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Law Minister<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 47.2684%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cabinet Minister responsible for law<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.0764%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Executive Member<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 29.864%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two Eminent Persons<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 47.2684%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Selected by a panel consisting of PM, CJI, and Leader of Opposition<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.0764%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Independent<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><b>Selection of Eminent Persons<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chosen by a 3-member committee: PM, CJI, and Leader of Opposition.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At least one should belong to SC\/ST\/OBC\/minority community or be a woman.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tenure: 3 years, with no reappointment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aimed to represent diversity and improve accountability.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Functions<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) was empowered to handle the entire framework of judicial appointments and transfers. It would recommend appointments to the President and ensure that judges were selected based on merit, integrity, and suitability.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Recommend appointments<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the Chief Justice of India, Supreme Court judges, Chief Justices of High Courts, and High Court judges.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Evaluate candidates<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> based on merit, seniority, judicial experience, legal expertise, and integrity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Recommend transfers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of High Court judges after considering administrative and functional needs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Collect and examine background information<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> through consultations with state authorities, bar associations, and other stakeholders.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ensure transparency<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by establishing criteria, procedures, and timelines for judicial appointments.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Reason for the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Struck Down<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the landmark judgment <\/span><b>Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association v. Union of India (2015)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a 4:1 majority of the Supreme Court struck down the NJAC and the <\/span><b>99th Constitutional Amendment, 2014<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as unconstitutional. The Court held that the judiciary must remain independent to protect <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/fundamental-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>fundamental rights<\/strong><\/a>, and any change that substantially reduces judicial primacy violates the basic structure doctrine.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Judicial Independence Undermined: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inclusion of the Law Minister and eminent persons meant external influence over judicial appointments, compromising independence.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Basic Structure Violation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Judicial independence is a core aspect of the Constitution\u2019s basic structure, and any amendment weakening it is invalid.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Two-Member Veto Problem: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The provision allowing any two NJAC members to block a recommendation risked creating deadlocks and giving excessive control to non-judicial members.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Executive Overreach Concerns: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The government\u2019s involvement in selecting eminent persons created possibilities of political interference.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ambiguity in Criteria:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Lack of clear qualifications for eminent persons created space for arbitrary or politically motivated selection.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Issues With National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) attempted to democratize the process, several concerns emerged around its composition and mechanism. Critics argued that NJAC reintroduced executive influence, which the judiciary had gradually reduced to preserve its autonomy.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Potential Loss of Judicial Primacy: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Judicial control over appointments would reduce significantly with the inclusion of executives and non-judicial members.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Risk of Political Influence:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Since eminent persons were indirectly appointed with government participation, political biases could enter the system.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Veto Provision Problem: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The two-member veto could stall appointments unnecessarily, leading to delays and vacancies in courts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Broad and Ambiguous Criteria:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The term &#8220;eminent person&#8221; lacked specificity, risking appointment of individuals without legal expertise.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Structural Imbalance:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Equal representation of judiciary, executive, and others could dilute the core principle of an independent judiciary.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Way Forward<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even though NJAC was struck down, the debate on judicial reforms continues. The Supreme Court itself acknowledged the need to improve the collegium system. There is growing consensus that reforms should enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency while <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">protecting judicial independence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Proposed Reforms<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Transparent Collegium Procedure: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Publish criteria, minutes, and reasons for appointment decisions to improve public trust.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Independent Secretariat:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Establish a professional secretariat to conduct research, verify credentials, and manage documentation for judicial appointments.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Objective Evaluation Metrics: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use standardized parameters such as judgments delivered, legal expertise, integrity reports, and domain specialization.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Broader Consultation Mechanisms: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allow structured input from senior advocates, bar councils, and legal experts while keeping decision-making independent.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Increase Diversity:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Ensure adequate representation of women, minorities, and marginalized sections in higher judiciary.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Periodic Review Mechanism:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Introduce performance assessment frameworks before elevation from High Court to Supreme Court.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) covers its composition functions amendment details judicial review issues and the debate on transparency and judicial independence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":74343,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[3783],"class_list":{"0":"post-74196","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"tag-national-judicial-appointments-commission-njac","9":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74196"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74196\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/74343"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}