AIADMK for separate panel for appointing HC judges
14 Aug 2014 5:07 AM IST
Despite the NDA government placating its ally AIADMK by awarding them the position of Deputy Speaker in Parliament, their party leader has criticised the National Judicial Appointments Commission bill 2014 introduced by the government on Monday.
Despite AIADMK leader M Thambidurai all set to be elected unopposed as Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, he did not mince words to raise objections to the Bill on Tuesday. During the discussion on the Bill he demanded that the executive be given more role in judicial appointments and states should have a separate commission for appointment of High Court judges.
The controversy regarding the appointment of judges was initially stoked by Press Council of India (PCI) chairperson Justice Markandey Katju who had alleged that the then Chief Justice of India (CJI) K G Balakrishnan had pushed for the elevation of a Madras High Court judge with ‘bad reputation’ to the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile after much opposition even the Congress gave in and would now be supporting the bill, which has tabled by the BJP-led government. Keen on getting the bill passed in this session itself, which will replace the existing Collegium system of appointments of judges, law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad started discussion on the bill in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Piloting the bill, he said that the government has no intention to confront the judiciary. However, the solemnity of Parliament is equally important. Prasad said the proposed Commission will be headed the Chief Justice of India. The Constitutional Amendment Bill will scrap the present collegium system for the appointment of the judges of Supreme Court and High Courts. He said the present bill has been brought after thorough discussions with all the stakeholders including political parties and members of judiciary.
During the discussion, Congress leader M Veerappa Moily said the proposed National Judicial Appointments Commission lacks transparency in the selection of judges to the higher judiciary.
Initiating the discussion Moily said the veto power in the collegium system is more worrying factor as it imposes unilateral decision. He said the presence of a lady member should be made mandatory in the proposed six-member Judicial Appointments Commission.
Despite AIADMK leader M Thambidurai all set to be elected unopposed as Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, he did not mince words to raise objections to the Bill on Tuesday. During the discussion on the Bill he demanded that the executive be given more role in judicial appointments and states should have a separate commission for appointment of High Court judges.
The controversy regarding the appointment of judges was initially stoked by Press Council of India (PCI) chairperson Justice Markandey Katju who had alleged that the then Chief Justice of India (CJI) K G Balakrishnan had pushed for the elevation of a Madras High Court judge with ‘bad reputation’ to the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile after much opposition even the Congress gave in and would now be supporting the bill, which has tabled by the BJP-led government. Keen on getting the bill passed in this session itself, which will replace the existing Collegium system of appointments of judges, law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad started discussion on the bill in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Piloting the bill, he said that the government has no intention to confront the judiciary. However, the solemnity of Parliament is equally important. Prasad said the proposed Commission will be headed the Chief Justice of India. The Constitutional Amendment Bill will scrap the present collegium system for the appointment of the judges of Supreme Court and High Courts. He said the present bill has been brought after thorough discussions with all the stakeholders including political parties and members of judiciary.
During the discussion, Congress leader M Veerappa Moily said the proposed National Judicial Appointments Commission lacks transparency in the selection of judges to the higher judiciary.
Initiating the discussion Moily said the veto power in the collegium system is more worrying factor as it imposes unilateral decision. He said the presence of a lady member should be made mandatory in the proposed six-member Judicial Appointments Commission.
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