The Supreme Court Collegium has taken a historic step by meeting with judge candidates outside Delhi for the first time in nearly three decades. The meeting, held in Visakhapatnam, focused on assessing the candidates recommended by the college of the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana High Courts.

In addition to evaluating their qualifications and personalities, the collegium also considered whether the candidates were fit for the role of constitutional judges.

The Collegium system was established by two landmark decisions in the 1990s, with the goal of selecting judges for constitutional courts while shielding the judiciary from executive influence.

This marks the first time the Supreme Court Collegium has conducted part of its judicial selection process outside Delhi. Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, Justice BR Gavai, and Justice Surya Kant led the collegium in Visakhapatnam, a bustling city in Andhra Pradesh.

Over 20 of the 32 Supreme Court judges, accompanied by their families, participated in the event. The Andhra Pradesh and Telangana High Courts had recommended their respective candidates for consideration.

The Supreme Court Collegium decided that assessing candidates in Visakhapatnam, rather than calling them to Delhi, would be more efficient, saving both time and money for the candidates. The discussions with three candidates from Andhra Pradesh and five from Telangana were held at the same hotel where the Supreme Court judges were staying. Personal interactions with the candidates began on December 22.

Previously, the Collegium relied solely on biodata, intelligence reports, and recommendations from Governors, Chief Ministers, and the High Court Collegium. Now, however, direct conversations with the candidates are conducted, allowing for a more thorough assessment of their behavior and suitability as judges.

Earlier, the collegium evaluated candidates based on their qualifications, abilities, and personalities, as seen in the assessments of candidates recommended by the Allahabad, Bombay, and Rajasthan High Courts. Many lawyers have welcomed this shift towards direct interaction, though some argue it could be unfair to exclude a qualified lawyer simply because they are related to a judge. A middle-ground proposal has emerged, suggesting that the assessment criteria for the relatives of judges should be more stringent than those for first-generation lawyers. This would ensure both competence and fairness.

This move by the Collegium is a significant step towards enhancing transparency in the judiciary. Direct interactions allow for a better understanding of candidates' personalities and qualifications, ensuring that only qualified and impartial individuals are appointed as judges. The Collegium's efforts to reduce dynastic influence are praiseworthy and will help increase public trust in the judiciary.