Provides an account of appointments, transfers, impeachment, and post-retirement employment of Supreme Court judges in India. Each of these facets leads to the critical questioning of judicial independence and accountability, and the book argues that they are not in conflict with each other and are crucial for an effective judiciary.

An independent; impartial and authoritative judiciary is an integral part of our judicial system. We require judges who maintain high standards of judicial behaviour to uphold the rule of law and inspire the public confidence in judicial system. This book contains the process of judicial appointments as the same lack transparency. It also analyses various aspects of judicial appointment and impeachment process for removal of corrupt and inefficient judges in view of outcome of impeachment proceedings against Justice Ramaswamy. The writer has suggested for setting up of a Judicial Commission for looking after appointments; transfers and disciplinary proceedings against errant judges. It also contains a review on crime against women and role of different organs in providing justice to common litigants. Pendeney of large number of cases and inordinate delay in disposal of cases are cause of concern for every law-knowing person in the country. The growing tendency of judicial activism is most controversial issue and matter of debate. An effort has been made to find the answers of these vital issues. The book will make a unique contribution to the legal literature and prove to be very informative to every law-loving person of our society.

We, the people of India, have adopted a written Constitution which has created an independent judiciary having the power of judicial review. While exercising this power, the judiciary not only acts as a guardian of the Constitution and its values, but also protects us from illegality, arbitrariness, malafides and corruption of other organs of the State. Therefore, in order to perform these functions the judiciary in India, since the adoption of the Constitution has been enjoying the highest degree of independence and has been held least accountable. This system has been adopted in the Constitution with the objective to achieve the concept of Justice as enshrined in the Preamble. It is pertinent to note that initially the judiciary had responded appropriately to achieve this object but, in due course of time, the Indian Judiciary under the guise of judicial activism, has shifted its focus in addition to delivering Justice, to governing the nation and its policies.

The National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) judgment, on the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court, has been the subject of a deeply polarized debate in the public sphere and academia. This volume analyses the NJAC judgment, and provides a rich context to it, in terms of philosophical, comparative, and constitutional issues that underpin it. The work traces the history of judicial appointments in India; examines the constitutional principles behind selecting judges and their application in the NJAC judgment; and comparatively looks at the judicial appointments process in six select countries—United Kingdom, South Africa, Canada, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal—enquiring into what makes a good judge and an effective appointments process. With wide-ranging essays by leading lawyers, political scientists, and academics from India and abroad, the volume is a deep dive into the constitutional concepts of judicial independence and separation of powers as discussed in the NJAC judgment.

This book investigates the mechanisms of judicial control to determine an efficient methodology for independence and accountability. Using over 800 case studies from the Czech and Slovak disciplinary courts, the author creates a theoretical framework that can be applied to future case studies and decrease the frequency of accountability perversions.

The judiciary in India is a vital pillar of the democratic framework, tasked with upholding the rule of law, interpreting the Constitution, and ensuring justice for all citizens. Here’s an overview of the judiciary system in India: Structure of Judiciary: Supreme Court of India: Apex court and highest judicial authority in the country. Located in New Delhi. Consists of the Chief Justice of India and other judges appointed by the President. Has original, appellate, and advisory jurisdiction. High Courts: Each state in India has a High Court. Headquartered in the capital city of the respective state. Exercises original and appellate jurisdiction over state matters. Judges appointed by the President. Subordinate Courts: Below the High Courts are subordinate courts, including District Courts and Sessions Courts. They handle civil and criminal cases within their jurisdiction. Judges are appointed by the Governor (in the case of states) and President (in Union Territories). Functions and Powers: Judicial Review: The judiciary has the power of judicial review to examine the constitutionality of laws and government actions. Interpretation of Laws: Courts interpret laws, including the Constitution, statutes, and precedents, to ensure their application and enforcement. Dispute Resolution: Adjudicates disputes between individuals, government bodies, and other entities through fair and impartial trials. Protection of Rights: Safeguards fundamental rights of citizens through enforcement and interpretation of laws. Independence and Accountability: Independence: The judiciary in India enjoys independence from the executive and legislative branches to ensure impartiality and fairness in decision-making. Accountability: Judges are accountable for their conduct through judicial standards and accountability mechanisms, including impeachment by Parliament for misconduct. Judicial Reforms and Challenges: Reforms: Continuous efforts are made to improve judicial efficiency, access to justice, and reduce backlog of cases. Challenges: Challenges include delays in justice delivery, infrastructure constraints, and ensuring judicial integrity and transparency. Landmark Judgments: The Indian judiciary has delivered several landmark judgments that have shaped constitutional law and protected citizens' rights, such as: Kesavananda Bharati vs. State of Kerala (1973): Established the basic structure doctrine of the Constitution. Maneka Gandhi vs. Union of India (1978): Expanded the scope of personal liberty under Article 21. Indira Gandhi vs. Raj Narain (1975): Declared the election of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi void on grounds of electoral malpractice. Conclusion: The judiciary in India plays a pivotal role in upholding the principles of democracy, protecting fundamental rights, and ensuring accountability in governance. It stands as a guardian of the Constitution and a safeguard against arbitrary exercise of state power, thereby contributing to the country's democratic ethos and rule of law.

This volume challenges the conventional wisdom about judicial independence in China and its relationship to economic growth, rule of law, human rights protection, and democracy. The volume adopts an interdisciplinary approach that places China's judicial reforms and the struggle to enhance the professionalism, authority, and independence of the judiciary within a broader comparative and developmental framework. Contributors debate the merits of international best practices and their applicability to China; provide new theoretical perspectives and empirical studies; and discuss civil, criminal, and administrative cases in urban and rural courts. This volume contributes to several fields, including law and development and the promotion of rule of law and good governance, globalization studies, neo-institutionalism and studies of the judiciary, the emerging literature on judicial reforms in authoritarian regimes, Asian legal studies, and comparative law more generally.