Arun Jaitley defends govt in RS on Judicial Appointment Bill

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley speaking on the Bill and amendment said the provision was that the President, which is the government, will appoint judges and will seek the advice of the Supreme Court and High Court.

He said the amendment will ensure transparency in appointment as he justified the decision of the government saying the spirit of the original Constitution will be restored. He assured that executive will not get primacy.

Earlier, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and other parties demanded immediate discussion on the bill. JD-U leader Sharad Yadav was vocal for a discussion.

The Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari said the MPs should not be anxious and there would be enough time to discuss it.

The BJP government will  have to get the bill passed in the Rajya Sabha where it faces a challenge since they do not have enough number of lawmakers in the upper house.

However, Chief Justice of India RM Lodha earlier endorsed the collegium system for appointing judges even as the government is against it.

"For God's sake don't shake the confidence of people in judiciary," Justice Lodha was quoted in media saying in connection with a petition on  judge KL Manjunath whose promotion as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has been challenged by the Centre.

"The collegium system has not failed. I am the person in the first batch appointed as a judge by the collegium system and Justice Rohinton (Nariman) is the last person. If the collegium system has failed then we are all failed," Justice Lodha said.