- Former Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul discusses his memoir 'Without Fear or Favour', highlighting judicial independence. - Raises concerns regarding the executive's growing influence and delays in clearing recommendations made by the Collegium system. - Emphasizes the tension between the judiciary and executive over judicial appointments and institutional checks and balances. - **Collegium System:** A judicial mechanism evolved through Supreme Court judgments for appointing and transferring judges to higher courts, ensuring judicial primacy and independence from executive influence. - **Supreme Court of India:** The highest constitutional court of India, serving as the ultimate guardian of the Constitution, court of appeal, and guarantor of fundamental rights. - **National Judicial Appointments Commission Act:** A statutory body proposed via the 99th Constitutional Amendment to replace the collegium system with a mixed-member panel, struck down for violating judicial independence. **Introduction** In an interview regarding his memoir, former Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul addresses structural challenges facing the Indian judiciary, particularly executive delays and growing influence over the Collegium system for judicial appointments, underscoring threats to judicial independence. **Core Issue and Detailed Points** - Former Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul discusses his memoir 'Without Fear or Favour', highlighting judicial independence. - Raises concerns regarding the executive's growing influence and delays in clearing recommendations made by the Collegium system. - Emphasizes the tension between the judiciary and executive over judicial appointments and institutional checks and balances. **Key Statutory Bodies, Acts & Concepts** - **Collegium System:** A judicial mechanism evolved through Supreme Court judgments for appointing and transferring judges to higher courts, ensuring judicial primacy and independence from executive influence. - **Supreme Court of India:** The highest constitutional court of India, serving as the ultimate guardian of the Constitution, court of appeal, and guarantor of fundamental rights. - **National Judicial Appointments Commission Act:** A statutory body proposed via the 99th Constitutional Amendment to replace the collegium system with a mixed-member panel, struck down for violating judicial independence.