Bill to change system of judicial appointments cleared

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Thursday cleared the National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, which proposes to change the current collegium system of judges appointing judges by a commission with representation from the executive and non-judicial members. 
    Despite the fact that the higher judiciary, led by the Chief Justice of India, has opposed any changes in the collegium system, the government is serious about bringing in the constitutional amendment and has mobilized support from other parties, including the main opposition BJP. 
    The proposed JAC will be headed by the CJI and will comprise the two senior-most judges of the apex court, the law minister and two eminent personalities to be selected by a committee consisting of the PM, the opposition leader and the CJI. The government has also introduced a clause in the JAC Bill that will empower the law ministry to initiate a list of names of judges for the commission to consider after inviting suggestions from other forums besides the Supreme Court and the high courts. 
    However, there was an important change from the earlier draft of the JAC Bill. In the new draft, the opposition leader has been dropped as member of the proposed JAC. Instead, the leader of opposition of either House of Parliament has now been included as part of the committee to be set up to nominate two eminent persons to JAC. The panel will have the CJI and the PM as members.

Source:::: The Times of India, 23-08-2013, p.18, http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW