Cash discovery row: RS Chairman Dhankhar holds meeting of floors leaders; Opposition demands roadmap

New Delhi: With the alleged discovery of cash at a judge’s residence triggering outrage in Parliament, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday held a meeting of floor leaders to discuss a plan of action, including on judicial appointments, but the Opposition demanded that the government first come up with a proposal on which they could give their opinion.

Amid indications of the government testing waters, the Opposition conceded that the present system of judge’s appointment is flawed but asked what would be their roadmap in case of the Supreme Court once again scrapping a law on judicial appointment like the way it nullified the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act earlier.

The meeting came as Opposition MPs raised the issue of discovery of huge cash at Justice Yashwant Varma’s residence following a fire incident with some claiming that there is a cloud on judiciary’s integrity and that Parliament should assert its supremacy against the backdrop of its action against the NJAC Act.

Sources said Dhankhar reiterated his strong views on the apex court scrapping the NJAC Act despite Parliament passing it with near unanimity and a majority of states giving its nod.

In the meeting, sources said, Dhankhar enquired how they could move forward on the issue. Earlier in the House, he said referring to the discovery of cash at Justice Vama’s premises, it is befitting the occasion to reiterate that NJAC was a visionary step and imagine if that had taken place, things would have been different.

Sources said Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, who spoke after Dhankhar, said the existing collegium system was not transparent and there is a need for an alternative. He admitted that concerns were there about appointments as the higher judiciary is not representative, as there is no reservation.

Kharge, also Congress president, said they could discuss a mechanism but only if the government comes up with a proposal. At the same time, he said, there is a need to ensure judicial independence.

Leader of the House J P Nadda, also BJP president, said there are two issues – the present one involving Justice Varma and judicial appointments. Without spelling out what is in BJP’s mind, he said he needed to consult his NDA colleagues on appointments and requested others to reach out to their leadership.

Sources said Nadda will reach out to leaders once again and a second meeting also could be called soon.

While there was a suggestion on NJAC-like mechanism, sources said senior Trinamool Congress leader Sukhendu Shekhar Roy asked whether the government would have a roadmap in the eventuality of the apex court once again scrapping it.