Bengaluru, 22 March

Former CJI Justice BR Gavai on Sunday said that the collegium system is the best for India.

He also stressed that the government should seriously consider the national litigation policy.

He was speaking at the valedictory session of the Supreme Court Bar Association's (SCBA) first National Conference -2026 titled "Reimagining Judicial Governance: Strengthening Institutions for Democratic Justice."

He said the collegium doesn't work arbitrarily. The names of the judges are recommended by the Chief Justice of the High Court and the collegium of the two most senior judges, and thereafter, it goes to the Centre.

"The inputs of the Centre, the Intelligence and everybody are gathered, and thereafter, the Supreme Court Collegium takes a final decision. And even after the names are sent, if the government or the executive have any issues, those issues are addressed to the collegium. The collegium considers those issues, and thereafter, it takes a final call," he added.

Speaking about the huge gap between the sanctioned strength and the number of appointments of the high court judges, the former CJI said, the judgement of the Supreme Court, on more than one occasion, has stated that, on the second reiteration, by the collegium, the executive is bound to make the appointment.

Stating that as a judge he has always been in favour of maintaining a balance between the protection of the environment and development, he said that courts do not interfere in environmental matters without reason.

Earlier, CJI Justice Surya Kant said that AI must be integrated into the judicial system in a manner that strengthens the institution without undermining its core functions.