Former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha expressed hope on Sunday that the BJP-led NDA, upon returning to power, will attempt to abolish the "undemocratic" collegium system for appointing judges in the higher judiciary. Addressing an election rally in the Karakat Lok Sabha constituency, where he is a candidate, Kushwaha made his remarks in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

"The collegium system has many flaws. It is undemocratic and has closed the doors of higher judiciary judgeship to Dalits, OBCs, and even the poor among the upper castes," claimed Kushwaha, who leads the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM). He added, "If we look at the composition of the bench in the Supreme Court and the high courts, it is dominated by members of a few hundred families. This flawed system has been criticized by both the current president and her predecessor."

Kushwaha, who served as the minister of state for HRD in the first Narendra Modi government, recalled the National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill introduced in 2014. "For some reason, it was struck down by the Supreme Court," he lamented.

He also criticized RJD president Lalu Prasad, questioning his "social justice credentials." Kushwaha accused Prasad of failing to challenge the collegium system during his tenure as a Union minister and a significant ally of the UPA government. "Despite being in power with the Congress-led coalition for an entire period, he never raised a voice against the collegium system," Kushwaha noted.

Referring to the corruption scandals involving the RJD chief, Kushwaha said, "We cannot expect a principled stand on such issues from someone who keeps oscillating between jail and bail."

Former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha expressed hope on Sunday that the BJP-led NDA, upon returning to power, will attempt to abolish the "undemocratic" collegium system for appointing judges in the higher judiciary. Addressing an election rally in the Karakat Lok Sabha constituency, where he is a candidate, Kushwaha made his remarks in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

"The collegium system has many flaws. It is undemocratic and has closed the doors of higher judiciary judgeship to Dalits, OBCs, and even the poor among the upper castes," claimed Kushwaha, who leads the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM). He added, "If we look at the composition of the bench in the Supreme Court and the high courts, it is dominated by members of a few hundred families. This flawed system has been criticized by both the current president and her predecessor."

Kushwaha, who served as the minister of state for HRD in the first Narendra Modi government, recalled the National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill introduced in 2014. "For some reason, it was struck down by the Supreme Court," he lamented.

He also criticized RJD president Lalu Prasad, questioning his "social justice credentials." Kushwaha accused Prasad of failing to challenge the collegium system during his tenure as a Union minister and a significant ally of the UPA government. "Despite being in power with the Congress-led coalition for an entire period, he never raised a voice against the collegium system," Kushwaha noted.

Referring to the corruption scandals involving the RJD chief, Kushwaha said, "We cannot expect a principled stand on such issues from someone who keeps oscillating between jail and bail."