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President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday called for the setting up of an all-India judicial service as a way to ensure equal representation of India’s diversity in the judiciary, stressing that the cause of justice was best served by making it accessible to all.
Ms. Murmu was speaking at an event at the Supreme Court to mark Constitution Day.
The event saw the unveiling of a statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at the court complex.
All-India Judicial Service
The All India Judicial Service (AIJS) is a proposed judicial service in India that would unify the recruitment and management of judges across all states.
The idea of an AIJS has been discussed for many years, but there has been no consensus on its implementation.
Background
The current system of judicial appointments in India is based on state-level judicial services.
This system can lead to disparities in the quality of justice across different states, as well as potential conflicts of interest.
Proposed Benefits of AIJS
An AIJS would create a more standardized and professional system of judicial appointments, which would help to ensure that judges of high quality are appointed across all states.
An AIJS would reduce the influence of state governments on judicial appointments, which would help to promote judicial independence.
An AIJS would allow judges to move more freely between different courts, which would help to develop their expertise and experience.
An AIJS would help to ensure that judges in different parts of the country apply the law in a more consistent manner.
Challenges to AIJS Implementation
A uniform recruitment process would need to be developed that would be fair and transparent, and that would ensure that judges from all backgrounds are considered.
A centralized training and development program would need to be established to prepare judges for the demands of a national judiciary.
State governments may be resistant to giving up control over judicial appointments, which could make it difficult to implement an AIJS.
Current Status of AIJS
The Indian government has been considering the establishment of an AIJS for many years, but there has been no consensus on its implementation.
In 2022, the Law Commission of India recommended the establishment of an AIJS, but the government has not yet taken any concrete steps to implement this recommendation.
The future of the AIJS is uncertain, but it is a proposal that is likely to continue to be debated for many years to come.
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