HC dismisses PIL challenging validity of Bill

The Madras High Court today dismissed as withdrawn a PIL challenging the constitutional validity of The National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2014 in the wake of a similar plea being dismissed by the Supreme Court.
"The learned senior counsel for the petitioner on instructions does not press the PIL. But in view of the order passed by the Supreme Court in another writ petition dealing with the subject matter, seeks leave to file a petition at the appropriate stage. The writ petition stands dismissed as withdrawn with the aforesaid liberty," the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M.Sathyanarayanan, in its order, said.

The petition challenged the validity of The National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2014, passed in both the Houses of Parliament as illegal and unconstitutional and without authority of source of power.
Earlier, the court had directed the Registry to number the writ petition and list it for admission on August 26.
Petitioner advocate E Vijay Anand submitted that the bill was passed even before Amendment Bill 97 of 2014 complies with procedure prescribed under Article 368(2) of the Constitution and even before the President had given his nod to it.
He sought that the bill be declared illegal and unconstitutional and without authority or source of power.

He also sought an interim stay of all further proceedings of the Bill during the pendency of the petition.