New Delhi: Appointment of judges to the High Courts and the Supreme Court by the National Judicial Appointments Commission will strengthen the independence of judiciary, rather than weakening it, the Centre asserted in the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
Making this submission before a three-judge Bench of Justices Anil R. Dave, J. Chelameswar and Madan B. Lokur, attorney-general Mukul Rohatgi rejected the argument that the new system of appointing judges would take away the independence of the judiciary.
He defended the two laws passed by Parliament for setting up of the NJAC and the Constitution Amendment Act replacing the collegium system of appointment of judges.
The AG said the Lok Sabha passed the two Bills with 367 to zero and Rajya Sabha passed with 180:1 and said that it was the will of Parliament to put in place a new system. Further at least 20 State Legislative Assemblies had ratified the amendment law before the President gave his assent.
