The Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai along with Justices Surya Kant and Vikram Nath, conducted interactions with 54 candidates aspiring for judgeship in various High Courts over the past two days.

The Collegium began its meetings on July 1, aiming to fill vacancies in High Courts across Madhya Pradesh, Patna, Allahabad, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Gauhati, and Delhi.

Sources familiar with the process confirmed that 20 candidates were interviewed on the first day and 34 on the second. This round of appointments has seen a more rigorous approach, with detailed interviews introduced to better assess the qualifications and suitability of each candidate. While some interviews were brief, others extended to nearly half an hour for closer scrutiny.

The move comes amid increased attention on judicial appointments, following controversies involving certain judges, including allegations of unaccounted cash at the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma and recent remarks by Justice Shekhar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court.

As of July 1, a total of 371 vacancies exist across the 25 High Courts in India.