Supreme Court verdict today on Government's role in selecting judges

A five-judge constitutional bench will announce its decision on petitions that have challenged the National Judicial Appointments Commission that replaced the old collegium system of judges appointing judges in the Supreme Court and high courts.

Petitions filed by a Supreme Court advocates' group among others argue that the new law is unconstitutional and tramples the judiciary's independence by  giving the government a major role role in the selection of judges.

Defending itselft, the government says the collegium system where judges appointed judges was not free from defects.

During arguments before the Constitution bench, the government's top lawyer, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had said it is a myth that judges alone can decide on who is the best person to be a judge.

In the new system notified in April, judges are chosen by the National Judicial Appointments Commission - a team of six members that includes the Chief Justice of India, the two most senior judges of the Supreme Court, two eminent persons, and the Law Minister.

The two eminent Indians will be chosen in turn by the Chief Justice, the PM and the leader of the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha.

For nearly two decades, judges have been appointed or transferred by a collegium - a group of five senior judges.