My suggestions are as follows:
(1) The Collegium may consist of at least the same number of members from outside the Judiciary as inside the Judiciary. This will ensure that there is no club-like approach from within the Judiciary with domination from the Chief Justice whom the other Judicial members of Collegium may not normally like to oppose or object to. The Independence of Judiciary from the other organs may be ensured by excluding from membership of the Collegium representatives of both Executive and Legislature.
(2) The members from outside the Judiciary may be people who would have acquired the capability of evaluating candidates being considered by virtue of either watching the proceedings in the Courts presided over by the candidates or regularly reading the Judgements of the candidates. They may be from amongst Lawyers, the Academia and/or the Media.
(3) The process of selection should be set in motion with the criteria being specified and notified for selection in relation to issues like
(a)the No. of years of experience,
(b) the age-limit,
(c) whether a member of SC or ST is preferred,
(d) the minimum marks or grading secured in his or her appraisal,
(e) the minimum marks to be secured at an Interview to be conducted for the selection by the members of the Collegium
(f) the minimum ratio of the number of judgements
which stand without being overruled by a Higher Court out of the total Number of Judgements, issued.
(g) the number of vacancies to be filled up
(h) the time-limit within which the vacancies are to be filled up
(4) Applications may be invited from candidates who are eligible as per the said criteria
(5) At least two of the three members of the Collegium who are from outside the Judiciary should vote in favour of a candidate being considered for appointment as a Judge or transfer of a Judge. A majority of all the members should vote in favour of the candidate selected for the post of Judge or, in case of transfer, the name of the Judge and the place to which transfer is to be effected.
(6) The Chief Justice may not be a member of the Collegium, but may be Observer-cum-Moderator of the proceedings of the Collegium. This will ensure that, by virtue of his superior position in the Judiciary, he does not influence the other Judicial members of the Collegium. more