MillenniumPost
Nation

Sibal faces embarrassment in RS over judicial bill

Law minister Kapil Sibal on Saturday expressed regret that the wrong numbering of the constitution amendment bill prevented it from being introduced in Lok Sabha.
 
Agitated members of the opposition led by senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad sought a statement from the law minister Saturday in the upper house, forcing the Rajya Sabha to adjourn for 15 minutes.

Rajya Sabha members had passed the constitution amendment bill providing for a Judicial Appointment Commission for the appointment of judges to the higher judiciary — the Supreme Court and the high courts — and doing away with the present system of judges appointing judges, through a collegiate system.

The members refused to accept an explanation from parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath and sought the presence of the law minister to explain the reason for the lapse and express regret, as the error had caused a loss of time of the upper house.

As the Rajya Sabha resumed proceedings, the law minister expressed regret and said that after the constitution amendment bill was passed by the upper house and was being taken to Lok Sabha for introduction and passage. 

The constitution amendment bill should have been numbered 99th amendment, and not 120th, as shown on the bill, the secretariat said.
Next Story
Share it