It is my duty to inform House about voices coming in support of NJAC Bill: Law Minister Kiren Rijiju

The Justice Minister said that many retired judges and Supreme Court Bar Association have given him in writing that the present Collegium system of appointment of judges is not correct, lacks transparency, and is not accountable. The 2014 NJAC Act was enacted by the Narendra Modi government but was later termed as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in October 2015

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday told Lok Sabha that many people from across the country have voiced in favour of the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Bill being reintroduced. The justice minister also said that many retired judges and Supreme Court Bar Association have given him in writing that the present Collegium system of appointment of judges is not correct, lacks transparency, and is not accountable. The 2014 NJAC Act was enacted by the Narendra Modi government under which a proposed body would have been responsible for the recruitment, appointment, and transfers of Chief Justice of India and other judges of Supreme Court and Chief Justices and judges of High Courts and for their transfers. However, the Supreme Court had termed the NJAC bill as unconstitutional in October 2015.

Kiren Rijiju on NJAC Bill | Key Points


1. “There has been a huge support regarding NJAC," the law minister told the Lower House. He also said he has received letters in writing which highlighted that the current system has several flaws and that it does even justify the slightest intent with which this provision was made in the Constitution.

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2. Rijiju made these remarks while replying to a question by RSP member N K Premachandran, who has asked the law minister to consider bringing the NJAC Bill back. “If there was any mistake in the drafting or anything, the minister may correct it and bring it back to the House,” Premachandran had said.

3. The law minister of the NJAC Bill has been getting a lot of support from across the country through media, different NGOs, and a large number of jurists.
“As I have said before that this is a very sensitive issue, so, I am not saying it as a commitment. But it is my duty to inform this House that such voices are coming, including voices from the judiciary,” the minister added.

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4. However, Rijju also said that the appointment process of judges in the higher judiciary at present is going on smoothly. He also said that government is in no way hindering the process of appointments. “Some of the allegations are also not correct to say that the government is stopping some of the names recommended by the Collegium," he added.

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5. He further said that the audience needs to understand that government cannot remain as a mute spectator and it needs to rationally think before it signs on any of the names.

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