CJI Gavai: Supreme Court Not “Superior” to High Courts while appointing Judges via the Collegium System

Chief Justice of India BR Gavai emphasized that the Supreme Court is not “superior” to High Courts, and cannot dictate how High Court collegiums select candidates.

Speaking at the Supreme Court Bar Association’s Independence Day event, he stressed both courts are constitutional and equal. 

CJI Gavai clarified that High Court collegiums first decide on candidates, and the Supreme Court collegium only recommends names after their approval. 

He acknowledged efforts to facilitate appointments of Supreme Court lawyers to High Courts and praised the collegium’s new practice of directly interacting with candidates to better assess their suitability for judgeship.