Lok Sabha Question No. 1269 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-06
Subject: Adverse effects of the Collegium System
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Shri Murari Lal Meena

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †1269

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 06 th  FEBRUARY, 2026

## ADVERSE EFFECTS OF THE COLLEGIUM SYSTEM

## †1269. Shri Murari Lal Meena:

Will the Minister of Law and Justice be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  about  33  per  cent  of  the  Supreme Court and 50 per cent of the Judges of High Court belong to the family members who have previously held high positions in the judiciary, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the above situation has arisen mainly due to the collegium system under which judges are appointed by judges themselves, if so, whether it adversely affects  the  principles  of  transparency  and  equal  opportunity,  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  any  official  data  regarding  the  generational (first  generation/second  generation)  background  of  judges  appointed  to  the  High Courts and the Supreme Court, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  transparency,  fairness and equal opportunities to ST, SC and OBC advocates in the judicial appointment process?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a) to (d): Appointment of Judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts is made under Articles 124, 217 and 224 of the Constitution of India, which do not provide for reservation for any caste or class of persons. Therefore, category-wise data

pertaining to representation of any caste or class of persons among the Judges of Supreme  Court  and  the  High  Courts  is  not  centrally  available.  Since  2018,  the recommendees for the post of High Court Judges are required to provide details regarding their social background in the prescribed format (prepared in consultation  with  the  Supreme  Court).  As  per  the  information  provided  by  the recommendees, out of 848 Judges appointed from 2018 till 02.02.2026, 33 belong to  SC  category,  17  belong  to  ST  category,  104  belong  to  OBC  category  and  46 belong to the minority category. 130 women were appointed as Judges in various High Courts during the same period.

As  per  the  Memorandum  of  Procedure  (MoP),  the  responsibility  for initiation of proposals for appointment of Judges in the Supreme Court vests with the  Chief  Justice  of  India,  while  the  responsibility  for  initiation  of  proposals  for appointment  of  Judges  in  the  High  Courts  vests  with  the  Chief  Justice  of  the concerned  High  Court.  However,  the  Government  is  committed  to  enhancing social  diversity  in  judiciary  and  has  been  requesting  the  Chief  Justices  of  High Courts that while sending proposals for appointment of Judges, due consideration be given to suitable candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Minorities and Women to ensure social diversity in the appointment of Judges in High Courts. Only those persons who are recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium, are appointed as Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.