NDA govt to have relook at key Law Min bills pending in RS

The fate of seven key legislations of the Law Ministry introduced by the previous UPA government and pending in the Rajya Sabha, including one seeking to scrap the present system of judges appointing judges, will be decided by the Narendra Modi dispensation in the coming days.

With the Budget session of Parliament slated to commence in the second week of July, the Legislative Department of the Ministry has started compiling the bills so that the Union Cabinet can take a call.

According to a recent circular of the Cabinet Secretariat, bills cleared by the Union Cabinet but yet to be enacted as laws will "need to be placed before the Cabinet" for decision as to whether they are to be pursued in the present form or any change is required to be carried out.

While assuming charge last month, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had made it clear that the establishment of a National Judicial Commission to give Executive a say in appointment of judges is a priority for the Modi government.

Responding to questions on the move of successive governments to replace the present collegium system where judges appoint judges, Prasad, who is himself a lawyer, said establishment of National Judicial Commission is part of BJP manifesto.

"Surely I will go through the existing instrument which is there. If there is a need for some improvement or some more consultation, we may consider it," he had told reporters.