The Four Judges Cases: Controversy Over Consultation in Judicial Appointments

1. What’s the Issue? The Constitution of India says that the President appoints Supreme Court and High Court judges after "consulting" the Chief Justice of India (CJI) . The problem? The word "consultation" was not clearly defined ! 🚨 Does it mean the President must follow the CJI’s advice , or is it just a formality? 🤔 The Supreme Court had to interpret this in four major cases , called the Four Judges Cases . 2. The Four Judges Cases – How the Meaning of "Consultation" Changed ➡️ First Judges Case (1982) The Supreme Court said "consultation" ≠ "concurrence" . This means the President can listen to the CJI’s advice but is NOT bound to follow it. Example: Imagine your friend gives you advice about what phone to buy. You can take it or ignore it —your choice! ➡️ Second Judges Case (1993) – Collegium System Introduced Supreme Court changed its view ! Now, "consultation" means "concurrence" , meaning the President MUST follow the CJI’s…