The Supreme Court Collegium has started taking a tougher and more detailed approach while selecting judges for High Courts, especially after recent controversies like the one involving Justice Yashwant Varma, where unaccounted cash was allegedly found at his residence.

Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justices Surya Kant and Vikram Nath have been interviewing candidates since July 1 to fill vacancies in High Courts such as Madhya Pradesh, Patna, and Allahabad. These interviews—conducted both virtually and in person—have been long and detailed, with each lasting about 30 minutes.

Even though such interactions aren’t new, the current Collegium is making them more thorough. Judges are closely examining the candidates’ work background and qualifications to ensure they are fit for the role. These interviews are happening during the summer break, when judges also take care of important administrative work like appointments.

Earlier, the Collegium mostly relied on reports from the State government, the Intelligence Bureau (IB), and feedback from senior judges. But with the judiciary facing criticism over past appointments, the Collegium has started insisting on direct interactions with candidates. This practice began under former CJI Sanjiv Khanna and is now being continued more strictly.

There are currently 371 vacancies across 25 High Courts in the country.

Delays from the Central government in approving names recommended by the Collegium remain a major issue. In some cases, candidates have even withdrawn their consent due to the long wait.

Recently, Justice Dipankar Datta stressed that any external interference in the Collegium’s decisions must be dealt with firmly.