Justice Ujjal Bhuyan Flags Collegium Opacity and Livestreaming Misuse

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan of the Supreme Court has raised a red flag regarding the 'return of opacity' in the judicial Collegium system. During a recent discussion, the judge argued that the Collegium’s failure to provide detailed reasons for its recommendations is a disservice to hard-working judges. He warned that unexplained appointments risk bringing individuals to the bench who may hold views contrary to constitutional values, thereby undermining the integrity of the higher judiciary.

The judge also addressed the growing trend of livestreaming court proceedings, expressing deep concern over the sensationalisation of judicial observations. Justice Bhuyan noted that decontextualised fragments of oral remarks made by judges are often circulated as 'viral' clips, which distorts public understanding of the judicial process. He cautioned that this trend could lead to a 'trial by social media,' where complex legal arguments are reduced to catchy but misleading soundbites.

In a notable moment during the discussion, Justice Bhuyan used an 'ant' metaphor to describe the current state of judicial transparency. He also strongly criticised the appointment of judges who make 'unconstitutional' remarks, suggesting that the current vetting process is failing to filter out such candidates. These observations highlight a growing internal demand within the Supreme Court for more robust transparency and accountability in both the appointment of judges and the public broadcast of court sessions.