Intrusion in Judicial Appointments: A Critical Stance by Justice Lokur

Former Supreme Court judge Justice Madan B Lokur has criticized the executive's intrusion into the judicial appointment process, arguing it poses a threat to merit-based selections. He delivered these remarks during an event organized by The Global Jurists focused on judicial morality.

Justice Lokur expressed concerns that the existing Memorandum of Procedure (MOP), designed with government consultation, has not alleviated these problems. He cautioned that executive control over judge appointments could lead to manipulations, such as delaying appointing senior advocates to impact their seniority and opportunities.

Furthermore, Justice Lokur stressed the importance of clear, understandable judicial language and criticized unclear judgments. He also highlighted potential issues with judges' post-retirement roles, citing cases where former judges have accepted political positions, suggesting that clear guidelines are needed to maintain judicial integrity and independence.

(With inputs from agencies.)