Govt. Remains Uncommited On New Law For Judges’ Appointments

New Delhi: Government on Tuesday refrained from making any commitment in Rajya Sabha on bringing a fresh law on appointment of judges after the previous legislation was struck down by the Supreme Court, saying it was for the polity to decide on the matter.

Responding to a Calling Attention on ‘Situation arising out of impasse in appointment of judges in High Court and Supreme Court’, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government has accepted the judgement on National Judicial Appointments Commission, Act 2014.

To support his point, the Law Minister cited the example of Goods and Services Tax (GST) law wherein government had to work very hard for arriving at consensus for passage of the Constitutional Amendment Bill.

In a written statement, Prasad said the Supreme Court had invited suggestions for the improved working of the Collegium.

The minister also said there was no impasse in appointment of judges. He did not give details regarding his ongoing discussion with the judiciary on Memorandum of Procedure.

“I am not running away from debate in Parliament. I am discussing the whole MoP with judges...Let the process be complete. I am dealing with something sensitive...I want to tell the members that we are alive to the concerns you have reflected here. Let that process be complete. We will do our best”, Prasad said.

The Supreme Court in its October 2016 order inter-alia struck down the Constitution (Ninety Ninth Amendment Act) 2014 and NJAC Act as unconstitutional and void. The apex court simultaneously revived the ‘collegium system’ for appointment of judges to higher judiciary.

PTI