Govt to hold discussions on selection of judges

The government has decided to hold wider consultations on bringing Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), which is set to scrap the collegium system of appointment of judges.

The Union Cabinet had in its meeting on Wednesday discussed the National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2014, but decided to wait for responses on consultations, sources said.

According to the proposal, the National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2014 to amend the Constitution that will make way for the proposed body to be headed by the Chief Justice of India will be moved in Parliament.

Besides the Chief Justice, the judiciary would be represented by two senior judges of the Supreme Court. Two eminent personalities and the Law Minister will be the other members of the proposed six-member body.

To allay fears of the judiciary, the Commission would be given a constitutional status to ensure that any future government does not tweak the composition through an ordinary legislation.

While the constitutional amendment bill requires two-third majority, an ordinary bill requires a simple majority.

A provision has been added that if two members of the proposed Commission are opposed to an appointment, the appointment will not come through.  The Commission will also recommend transfer of Chief Justices and judges of 24 High Courts from one state to the other.