Government’s proposal of Search Cum Evaluation Committee

In view of the inadequacy of the present system of judicial appointment, the government has suggested appointing a Search Cum Evaluation Committee (SEC) to assist and stream line judicial appointments.

Proposed structure of SEC

• SEC to have three year tenure.
• Membership of SEC is to be decided by the Chief justice of India (CJI) in consultation with the union government.
• It will comprise of former judges, academics and other experts.

Working of SEC

The SEC would suggest candidates in the ratio of 5:1 to the collegiums. The collegiums are then to select and forward to the government. Establishment of SEC would make the judicial appointments in line with the practice being followed while appointing senior most appointees in the bureaucracy and regulatory bodies. The search and selection committees select the candidates before being recommended to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet for final approval.

Advantages of SEC

The SEC will institutionalise the search and selection process and is expected to make it transparent, expeditious and objective. Being a subordinate body, SEC will no way restrict the Supreme Court’s authority and autonomy in selecting the judges.