Chief Justice TS Thakur will hear a petition demanding an increased public role in selection of judges.
A petition seeking the formation of a public body, neither controlled by the government nor the judiciary, for appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and the high courts will be heard by the top court today.
A bench led by Chief Justice TS Thakur will decide on the petition filed by National Lawyers Campaign for Judicial Transparency and Reforms which requested for urgent hearing after alleging nepotism and favoritism in the present collegium system of selection judges.
The petition moved by the lawyers' body had earlier criticized the judgement in the National Judicial Appointments Commission which it claimed "perpetuated privilege and a system of patronage."
"No mechanism which will provide for a just, fair, open and non-discriminatory selection and appointment of judges from a diverse pool of candidates has been brought into existence," the petition by the lawyers' body claims.
The lawyers' body also claimed that there was no effective mechanism to address the complaints of misconduct against judges.
In October last year, the Supreme Court had rejected the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act and the 99th Constitutional Amendment which sought to give politicians and members of the civil society a say in the appointment of judges to the highest courts.
"It is difficult to hold that the wisdom of appointment of judges can be shared with the political-executive. In India, the organic development of civil society has not as yet sufficiently evolved. The expectation from the judiciary, to safeguard the rights of citizens of this country can only be ensured by keeping it absolutely insulated and independent from other organs of governance," Justice JS Khehar of the Supreme Court had said explaining the judgment last year.