|
| Govt to bring Bill on judges disclosure of assets |
| Press Trust of India / New Delhi Jun 26, 2009, 16:52 IST |
|
Government will soon bring a Bill in Parliament making it mandatory for judges of the higher judiciary to disclose their assets and liabilities, Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said today.
The government is working on another Bill which seeks to set up a mechanism for inquiring into cases of corruption by judges as at present there was no provision "short of impeachment".
"We will introduce, as part of 100 days' programme, a legislation on the disclosure of assets and liabilities (by the judges)", he told a meet-the-press organised by the Press Association.
Moily said he has asked the Law Secretary to prepare clause by clause draft of the Bill within two days so that it can be sent to the Cabinet. He said it was a wrong notion that judiciary was against disclosure of assets and liabilities. "We will take judiciary into full confidence...We are not in a confrontationist line".
Speaking on corruption in judiciary, Moily referred to the initiation of impeachment proceedings against the sitting Calcutta High Court judge Soumitra Sen, charged with "misconduct".
He said Government will ensure that the impeachment proceedings against Justice Sen in Parliament is carried out and "the impression that nothing will happen will have to go".
Moily announced that Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan has named apex court judge Justice B Sudershan Reddy as the chairman of the three-member panel to initiate impeachment proceedings against Justice Sen.
"In the last 60 years, impeachment proceedings have not been successful. This time it is going to happen in Soumitra Sen's case," he said.
Elaborating government's resolve to reduce pendency of criminal cases including those of corruption, he said 100 CBI courts will be set up across the country for expeditious trial of cases under Prevention of Corruption Act.
The Minister said Government will give serious consideration to criminal cases of heinous nature, including against politicians, so that the trials could be completed by fast track courts.
He said 200 family courts would be opened across the country for speedy disposal of cases and commercial courts will be set up in the four metros.
Moily restrained himself from commenting on the controversial issue of legalising homosexuality and decriminalising section 377 of Indian Penal Code (dealing with unnatural sexual offences) saying the matter was pending before the Delhi High Court, which has reserved its judgement.
"The judgement on the issue has been reserved by the Delhi High Court. It is a sub-judice matter. I cannot comment on it," he said.
Moily said the issue was being discussed in Ministry of Home Affairs and Health Ministry and it will come before the Law Ministry also.
Moily said entry of foreign legal firms to India cannot be allowed without taking the legal fraternity into confidence.
"We have to discuss it with open mind. Unless there is open debate and unless stake holders are taken into confidence we cannot take any decision," he said.
The Minister steered clear of questions regarding withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Power Act from Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East.
Asked about reservation in judiciary, Moily said he has not applied his mind on the issue but added that there has never been reservation in the higher judiciary. He said reservation in subordinate judiciary already exists.
He said merits cannot be compromised for appointment of judges in the higher judiciary. However, he added that it cannot be said that scheduled castes and scheduled tribes don't have merit.
Moily said as a part of the 100 days' programme, the agenda for judicial reforms will be in place by September 15 with a plan to evolve a judicial system affordable and accessible to last man in the queue.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Read Business news in |  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advertisements |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Content Guide
