Jethmalani says NJAC verdict is 'first class'

Hailing the Supreme Court's declaring the National Judicial Appointment Commission (NJAC) Act as "unconstitutional", senior lawyer and Rajya Sabha member Ram Jethmalani on Friday said the verdict has upheld the stature of judiciary required in a democracy.

"I would like to congratulate the judges, as they have upheld the stature of judiciary required in a democracy. The people of the nation must thank these judges for delivering a first class judgment," Jethmalani told ANI here.

The former BJP lawmaker also took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying "The court's verdict is a lesson for Prime Minister Modi as well, as he is 'constitutional ignoramus'."

"But, those who are responsible for preserving the Constitution, such as the attorney general, the law minister and other officers, they haven't done good work either, they ran away from their duties," the veteran lawyer added.

The Supreme Court on Friday struck down the NJAC Act - meant to replace the two-decade old collegium system of appointing judges in higher judiciary - as "unconstitutional".

The apex court also rejected the Centre's plea that the petition challenging the NJAC Act be referred to a larger bench.

The apex court has fixed November 3 to hold further hearing on the issue of improving the collegium system of appointment of judges.

On July 15, a five-judge bench headed by Justice J S Khehar had reserved its judgement after 31-day hearing on the issue of validity of the 99th Constitutional amendment and the NJAC Act.