New Delhi, Jul 21 Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Tuesday said the Supreme Court collegium sometimes faces "very casual criticism", particularly by those who really do not know about the functioning of the judicial system.
The CJI said that while taking any decision, the collegium has so many important relevant factors which are kept in mind while short-listing judges for appointment to the constitutional courts.
He said that "one of the factors for the purpose of elevation to the Supreme Court is always the concept of inclusivity and diversity".
The CJI was speaking at a function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) to felicitate Justice Sheel Nagu, Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Justice Arun Palli and Justice V Mohana, who took oath of office as judges of the apex court last month.
"I can assure you that despite the very casual criticism sometimes the Supreme Court collegium face and particularly by those people who really do not know about the functioning of the judicial system and how the Supreme Court collegium evolve, what kind of criteria, the factors, the issues that are deliberated," Justice Kant said.
He said when the collegium recommends the names for elevation to the apex court, various factors including the performance, length of service already rendered as judges, position they have held in the past and even their professional life are kept in consideration.
The CJI said he personally believes that judges who come to the apex court carry the responsibility of maintaining the faith and trust of people in the judicial system and to strengthen them in due course of time.
He said the other responsibility that comes with elevation to the Supreme Court is the development of constitutional jurisprudence.
"This is not the court essentially meant for deciding the criminal matters or civil matters only. The Supreme Court is expected to develop the constitutional jurisprudence," the CJI said.
He thanked the apex court collegium for taking an objective and merit-based decision in bringing these five new judges to the top court.
The five judges, Attorney General R Venkataramani, SCBA President and senior advocate Vikas Singh besides the CJI also addressed the gathering.
In her address, Justice Mohana, who became only the second woman in the country to be directly elevated to the apex court from the Bar, said it was a very emotional moment for her.
"For me, it's a very emotional moment standing before you. This is the place where I grew up, where I honed my skills as a professional, where I got so much love and affection. This is the Bar which has actually promoted me, encouraged me and allowed me to become to grow my wings," she said.
Justice Mohana thanked the judges of the collegium for giving her this opportunity and for reposing confidence and faith in her.
"It is said that behind every successful man, there is a woman, but I must say, behind every successful woman, there is a husband and an entire family," she said.
On June 2, the CJI administered the oath of office to these five judges of the Supreme Court.
