Summary:
New Delhi, Dec 8 (PTI) Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday remained non-committal on bringing a fresh bill to set up a body to appoint Supreme Court and high court judges but said a cross-section of people, including sitting and retired judges, favoured a national judicial appointments commission.The Supreme Court had struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, which was passed by an overwhelming majority by Parliament.
Since then there have been demands to overturn the apex court judgment.Responding to a debate on a bill which seeks to bring clarity on the age of retired judges to determine enhanced pensions, he said there has been massive support for the NJAC."When an Act passed by Parliament is stuck down by the Supreme Court, it is a larger issue for all of us to consider and discuss.
That I might take up later.
Today since we are dealing with a very specific case I wouldn"t like to dwell much on the questions of the NJAC right now," Rijiju said.Later, the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2021 was passed by a voice vote.He said several judges, retired judges and the Supreme Court Bar Association have written to him saying that the collegium system was not good as it lacked transparency and accountability.Rijiju said the NJAC has been garnering support from across the country, including jurists.
"It is a sensitive issue.
I am not saying as a commitment, but it is my duty to inform the House that several such voices are coming, including that from the judiciary.