Overview

• The Supreme Court released data on 406 high court judicial candidates recommended by its collegium, with 221 approved by the government and 185 either pending or unapproved.
• Demographic analysis shows low representation of women (34), Scheduled Castes (8), Scheduled Tribes (7), and Other Backward Classes (32) among the recommended candidates.
• Only 6% of the recommendations involved candidates related to sitting or retired judges, countering perceptions of widespread nepotism in appointments.
• The court published procedural guidelines and appointment processes, including roles of state governments and high court collegiums, to promote transparency.
• The data highlights delays in government approvals, with 29 recommendations still awaiting clearance, underscoring the tension between the judiciary and executive.