This refers to the article, “Don't trust Congress with judicial reform” (September 17) by A Surya Prakash. The Congress has over the years demonstrated its ability to undermine the independence of democratic institutions and tweak them to suit its designs.
Appointing pliable officers, including retired bureaucrats, to coveted constitutional positions has been the trademark Congress-style. Before the collegium system of appointments to higher judiciary came into vogue, there were umpteen instances of unsuitable candidates making it to the higher courts. Delays in appointments and frequent changes in appointment policies hurt the judiciary badly. The collegium system restored order and did a commendable job.
In the proposed Judicial Appointments Commission, the very presence of the executive, in the form of Union law Minister and the law Secretary as the convener, would defeat the purpose of the commission, and we will have a repeat of the chaos that marked the pre-collegium days.