Govt seeks views of parties on judicial panel

The government has sought suggestions of political parties on the mode of appointing high court and Supreme Court judges as part of its effort to replace the collegium system with a commission.

The move is significant in the wake of claims by former SC judge Justice Markandey Katju that three former chief justices of India made “improper compromises”, ignoring adverse intelligence reports while appointing a judge in the Madras High Court in 2003-04.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has sent letters to leaders of political parties inviting their views on appointment of higher judiciary and setting up of judicial appointment commission, sources said.

He had earlier indicated that the government would rework on a UPA government’s constitutional amendment bill giving the executive a say in appointment of judges.

The government has expressed its keenness to appoint National Judicial Commission made of both the executive and dudicial members with a greater weightage for the latter.

The Judicial Appointments Commission bill that gives executive a role in the appointment of Supreme Court and High Courts, and the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill which lays enforceable standards for the conduct of judges have been pending for approval of Parliament.