That’s what Supreme Court Justice Datta just said, while reacting to the Centre’s defence of how Election Commissioners are chosen. The government had drawn a parallel between that system and the Collegium system; and Justice Datta didn’t buy it. This isn’t just legal jargon. It’s about who really holds the power when it comes to appointing top officers. If even the judiciary’s own appointment process is being questioned, what does that say about transparency and balance? For anyone preparing for civil services or law exams, this is a quiet but important shift; because it hints at deeper changes in how institutions operate. The myth of judicial independence may be getting a reality check. And that changes everything.