New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear on Monday the petitions challenging 121st Constitutional amendment scrapping the collegium system for appointment of judges to the apex court and the high court.
Two pleas were filed challenging the constitutionality of the amendment paving the way for the judicial appointment panel in place of the existing collegium system.
Seeking the quashing of the National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2014 and the Constitution Bill, 2014, the PIL sought declaration that they are “arbitrary, unconstitutional, and deface, defile, damage basic structure and feature of India’s constitution.â€
Last week, Chief Justice of India, R M Lodha said “judiciary, executive and Parliament†should work with mutual respect and not encroach on each other’s space, in remarks seen as a message to the Narendra Modi government.
Justice Lodha has publicly opposed moves to replace the collegium of five senior most judges that currently decides on the appointment or transfer in the higher judiciary.
Earlier this month, Parliamentary approval was accorded to two Bills seeking to end the collegium system for appointment of judges.
The Constitution (99th Amendment) Bill seeks to put the proposed judicial appointment commission and its entire composition in the constitution, and the National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2014, which lays down the procedure to be followed by the proposed body for appointment of Supreme Court judges and transfer and appointment of chief justices and other judges of the high courts.