Judicial bill restores spirit of constitution: Jaitley

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Thursday said the constitutional amendment bill for a judicial appointment commission restores the original spirit of the constitution.

Resuming the discussion in the Rajya Sabha on The Constitution (99th Amendment) Bill and the National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2014, the minister said it will mean that the president will appoint judges for the Supreme Court.

"Through this bill, the government seeks to restore the spirit of the original constitution. In simple English, this means that the president and the government will appoint judges to the Supreme Court," said Jaitley.

"It goes back to the constitution and article 124 which says Supreme Court judges should be appointed by the president," he said.

The Constitution (99th Amendment) Bill and the National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2014 lay down the procedure to be followed by the proposed body for appointment of Supreme Court judges and transfer and appointment of chief justices and other judges of the high courts.