Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association v. Union of India (Fourth Judges Case)

This five-judge Constitution Bench struck down the 99th Constitutional Amendment and the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, 2014, which sought to replace the Collegium system for judicial appointments with a commission involving executive participation. By a 4:1 majority, the Court held that the NJAC violated the independence of the judiciary, which is part of the Constitution's basic structure. The inclusion of the Law Minister and two eminent persons nominated by the executive in the judicial appointment process was held to undermine judicial primacy. Justice Chelameswar dissented, arguing that the Collegium system lacked transparency and accountability. The judgment preserved judicial primacy in appointments while acknowledging the need for reforms in the existing system.