HCs restrained from entertaining pleas agst NJAC Act

The Supreme Court today restrained all high courts from entertaining any petition challenging validity of Constitutional Amendment Act and National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act meant to replace the two-decade-old collegium system of judges appointing judges.

"No high court will proceed with the matters relating to the constitutional validity of these laws," a three-judge bench headed by Justice A R Dave said.

The bench also said that it will decide later as to whether these petitions are maintainable or not and if they should be referred to a larger bench.

Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Centre, vehemently opposed the submissions seeking a stay on these legislations saying these are "premature" as the Acts are yet to be notified.

"The challenge is premature as the Acts are not even notified and hence the question of interim order(of stay) does not arise," the AG said, adding, "The passing of an Act is irrelevant. What is important is the date of notification."

Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, who sought intervention on behalf of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), supported the Central government saying the present legislation is a "brilliant mixture of executives, judiciary and the civil society".

He also said that the functioning of the present collegium system has always been shrouded in secrecy.

Senior advocate T R Andhyarujina also supported Centre's stand on the issue saying, "In no country of the world this system of judges appointing their brethren is operating".

The bench also comprising justices J Chelameswar and Madan B Lokur, has now fixed the hearing on the batch of petitions for March 17.

Yesterday, the apex court commenced the hearing on the validity of the Acts. The Centre, while defending the Acts, had "vigorously" opposed the pleas saying the new system will strengthen the system rather than weaken it.

During the arguments, senior advocates Fali Nariman and Anil Divan, who were appearing for Supreme Court Advocates-on- Record Association (SCAORA) and an advocate respectively, had alleged that the NJAC Act would take away and knock down the independence of judiciary.

Rohatgi had countered their contention and termed the apprehension of the other side as "alarmist" and said that "there was no basis to say that executive will gang up".

Nariman had stressed that fait accompli should not be allowed to take place and the order should be passed to maintain status quo by referring the matter before a five-judge constitution bench otherwise the entire exercise would become a "dodo".

His view was shared by Divan, who had said the legislative exercise undertaken to replace the collegium system not only reduces and overrides judicial voice but it is drowned and looks like an irreversible situation.

Nariman had contended that NJAC Bill, which was passed by both the Houses of Parliament on August 14, 2014 was beyond the legislative competence of Parliament and was in violation of Articles 124(2) and 217(1) of the Constitution and as such is invalid and void.

He had questioned the enactment of the legislation without bringing amendment in the Constitution.

Countering the arguments of Nariman and Divan, the AG had said since both Houses of Parliament unanimously passed the legislations with voice vote of 367:0 in Lok Sabha and 187:1 in Rajya Sabha, "the Will of the House can't be ignored".

He had said it was wrong to suggest that new process on appointment of judges would take away consultative process.

Spelling out the constitution of the six-member panel for selection and appointment of judges, Rohatgi had said that appointment of two eminent persons in it would not be in the hand of the Chief Justice of India or the executive but in the hands of a "high-powered body consisting of CJI, Prime Minister and Leader of Oppostion or leader of largest opposition party to maintain transparency.

The NJAC Act, which ends the two-decade-old collegium system of judges themselves selecting and appointing judges for higher judiciary, has also been challenged by others including senior advocate Bhim Singh, who contended that the new process is likely to jeopardise the appointment of judges in higher courts resulting in further delay in rendering justice to common people.