How is the collegium system for appointing judges to the higher judiciary in India being criticized

The collegium system for appointing judges to the higher judiciary in India has faced criticism on several grounds: 1. Lack of transparency: One major criticism is the lack of transparency in the selection process. The decisions and criteria for selecting judges remain opaque, leading to doubts about fairness and bias. 2. Lack of accountability: The appointments made through the collegium system are not subject to any external checks or balances, leading to concerns about the accountability of the judiciary. 3. Elitism and lack of diversity: Critics argue that the collegium system perpetuates the dominance of a select group of judges from elite backgrounds, undermining diversity and representation in the judiciary. 4. Inefficiency and delays: The system has often been criticized for causing delays in appointments due to disagreements among the collegium members, leading to a backlog of vacancies in the judiciary. 5. Judicial misconduct: The collegium system has been accused of promoting the elevation of judges with questionable integrity or misconduct allegations due to the lack of proper mechanisms for vetting and accountability. Overall, the criticisms against the collegium system in India emphasize the need for reforms to improve transparency, accountability, diversity, and efficiency in the judicial appointment process.