JOIN USWelcoming the move to form a National Judicial Appointments Commission, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday rued that there was not a single judge in the Supreme Court from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Stating that it was the same scenario even in high courts, he expressed optimism that the commission, aimed at addressing the problems of judiciary, would look into the composition of backward sections.
Addressing the national seminar on National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2014, under the aegis of Lawyers Forum for Social Justice and Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, National Law School of India University, he said there was no information on whether candidates from backward sections were being considered while making appointments. If so, why they were not appointed in adequate numbers, he wondered.
He attributed this to lack of transparency in the procedure of appointing judges which necessitated the formation of National Judicial Appointment Commission. He, however, cautioned that once the commission was constituted, issues relating to “transparency” and “accountability” and “procedures” must be looked into.
Advocate General for Karnataka, Ravivarma Kumar, in his keynote expressed apprehension at the speed and the manner in which the formation of commission was being pursued. Later, asked about Cabinet expansion, Siddaramaiah said it was “his prerogative” and he will decide “when to expand it.”
On reports that Energy Minister D K Shivakumar had visited Delhi to seek the party high command’s views on the matter, he said, “No one has gone to Delhi.”