India, June 9 -- Every discussion on judicial reform in India eventually arrives at the same destination: the shortage of judges. Court vacancies, pendency and delays dominate headlines and policy debates. Yet a more fundamental question often escapes serious scrutiny. Are we paying enough attention to the quality of judges entering the system?

The answer, unfortunately, is not reassuring. India's district judiciary constitutes the backbone of the justice delivery system. For the overwhelming majority of citizens, justice begins and ends at the trial court level. Very few litigants ever reach a High Court, and fewer still find themselves before the Supreme Court. Yet the recruitment of judicial officers continues to be fragmented across ...