Judicial Commission bill passed, govt drops amendment

A landmark bill to replace the collegium system of judges choosing judges was today passed in the Lok Sabha after government dropped a controversial provision that required unanimity in recommendation if President seeks reconsideration.
The National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2014 was passed by voice vote without any opposition after Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad accepted a Congress demand and moved an official amendment.
The amendment dropped the provision requiring uanimity in the Commission's recommendation if President had referred the earlier recommendation back to the collegium for reconsideration.
The official amendment, moved by Prasad, said that if the President returns the recommendation of the Commission, the panel will not have to return the recommendation for reconsideration "unanimously". If the recommendation is returned to President without a unanimous recommendation, the candidate will have to be appointed.

Congress member and former Law Minister M Veerappa Moily, during the debate, had raised the issue and demanded the droppoing of the proposal. The Opposition felt that under the original provision of unanimity even one member can veto the Commission's recommendation.
Along with NJAC bill, the 99th Constitution Amendment Bill, which seeks to confer Constitutional status to the proposed Commission, was passed by 367 in favour and none against.
Under the statute amendment bill, Chief Justice of India will head the NJAC. Besides the CJI, the judiciary would be represented by two senior judges of the Supreme Court. Two eminent personalities and the Law Minister will be the other members of the proposed body.