Chief Justice of India (CJI):
CJI Forms Three-Member Committee to Probe Allegations Against Delhi High Court Judge.
- Qualifications of CJI:
- A person is eligible to be appointed as Chief Justice of India if they:
- Are a citizen of India.
- Have served as a Judge of a High Court for at least five years.
- Have been an advocate in a High Court for at least ten years.
- Are considered a distinguished jurist by the President of India.
- Appointment of CJI
- The President appoints the CJI under Article 124(2) of the Constitution.
- The outgoing CJI recommends their successor based on seniority.
- The Union Law Minister forwards the recommendation to the Prime Minister, who then advises the President.
- As per the Second Judges Case (1993), the senior-most Supreme Court judge is appointed as the CJI.
- Role and Powers of the CJI
- The CJI allocates cases to Supreme Court benches and decides the composition of benches.
- The CJI leads the Supreme Court Collegium, responsible for appointing and transferring judges.
- The CJI supervises court administration, staff appointments, and judicial proceedings management.
- The CJI is first among equals and does not hold superior judicial power over other judges.
- Removal of CJI or Judges
- A Supreme Court judge, including the CJI, can be removed by the President after an address by Parliament supported by a special majority.
- Grounds for removal (Article 124(4)):Proven misbehavior ,Incapacity
Collegium System:
- A mechanism for appointing and transferring judges in the Supreme Court and High Courts.
- Not established by an Act of Parliament, but evolved through Supreme Court judgments (Judges Cases).
- For SC Appointments: CJI + four senior-most judges.
- For HC Appointments:
- HC-level Collegium: Chief Justice of HC + two senior judges.
- SC-level Collegium: CJI + two senior-most SC judges.
