The Narendra Modi Government received appreciation even from political opponents as the Rajya Sabha passed both the 121st Constitution Amendment Bill and National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill here on Thursday.
The decks are now cleared for the creation of a judicial commission for appointment of judges in high courts and the Supreme Court. Members — cutting across political lines — congratulated Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad for correcting the “wrong system” of “judges appointing judges.”
Both the Bills got passed in the Upper House without any dissenting votes.
Replying to the debate that started on Wednesday, Prasad said all apprehensions of Opposition parties and the legal fraternity have been addressed in the new Bill.
He ensured the House that the opinion of the Chief Minister and the Governor will be taken before appointing a judge in high courts. “Today judges appoint judges and they will probably take the views of the Executive. There is only a marginal role of the consultation with the executive. There is hardly any role that the Governor and Chief Minister have and if the Executive has a contrarian view and there is strong reason for that contrarian view and it conveys to the judiciary...it is considered as a view not taken,” Prasad said.
Earlier, during the debate, many members pointed out the judiciary in India does not have many members from the SC, ST and OBC communities. The Minister assured that the anomaly will be kept in mind when judicial appointments are made in the future.