Second, the present system of selection, appointment, promotion and discipline is certainly unsatisfactory and inconsistent with international standards. There must be an independent mechanism, like a Judicial Services Commission, responsible for selection and recommendation, including promotions. This mechanism should not be left in the hands of just one person, be he the prime minister or chief justice. No power should be left in the hands of a single individual. Similarly, there should be an independent complaints mechanism where the public can lodge complaints about judges.
Judges too are accountable and subject to the law.
In South Africa, for instance, the judiciary has recently drafted its own legislation to set up a Judicial Complaints Commission. Third, continued legal education programmes should be introduced and, if necessary, made compulsory for judges to update them on developments in the law, including developments in other jurisdictions. Such programmes are quite common in other countries. I think it has a lot to do with the events of 1988 where the government s involvement was apparent. The present state of the judiciary could be traced to those events.