Law Minister Kapil Sibal today faced an embarrassing situation in the Rajya Sabha and was forced to apologise after a technical error was detected in a Constitutional amendment bill which paves way for the creation on a new system of appointment of judges in the country.
"I am deeply anguished with the fact that Constitutional Amendment Bill could not be taken up by Lok Sabha," Sibal said after Opposition members created an uproar, saying the legislation was rushed through in the Upper House but not taken up in the Lower House which was adjourned sine die yesterday.
He explained that there was an error in the title of the bill. When introduced, it was titled Constitution (120th) Amendment Bill, but when passed it should have read as Constitution (99th) Amendment Bill.
"The Secretariat realised some error has taken place. The patent error was immediately intimated to the Chairman who corrected it and transmitted to Lok Sabha. The bill was printed and ready for passage. However, I regret despite our best efforts it could not be taken up by Lok Sabha. It was not intentional," he said.
The bill was passd by the Rajya Sabha two days back amid a walkout by BJP which wanted it to be referred to a Parliamentary Standing Committee.
The Constitution Amendment Bill paves way fore creation of a Judicial Appointments Commission to recommend appointment and transfer of judges of the Supreme Court and the 24 High courts.
The main bill - the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2013 which which defines the establishment of the proposed body has already been referred to the Standing Committee.
