NJAC: Govt thinking ways and means on strategy ahead

With the Supreme Court striking down the NJAC Act, government is thinking ways and means on the strategy ahead and could convene an all-party meeting to take everyone along on the key legislation.
Mindful of the fact that the issue does not degenerate into a tussle between the legislature and the judiciary, it could utilise the hearings in the apex court next month on improving the collegium system.
It could suggest changes that would ensure the independence of the judiciary while at the same time taking care of government's view that 'judges appointing judges' is not the best practice.
Sources in the government said while it would take some time for the government to formulate its stand, it may not immediately rush for a review of the verdict which overturned its law on appointment of judges and brought back the collegium system.

If the all-party meeting is convened ahead of the Winter session, it is expected to evolve a consensus given the fact that the legislation was first brought by the previous NDA government, later pushed by the UPA dispensation and finally cleared by Parliament last year.
Meanwhile, Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, who was in Bengaluru, is rushing back to Delhi and may consult his law officers before seeking views of his Cabinet colleagues.
The NDA government suffered a huge setback today with the Supreme Court striking down as unconstitutional the NJAC Act which gives a major role to the executive in appointing judges to higher judiciary.

The ambitious National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, 2014 to replace the 22-year-old collegium system of judges appointing judges was struck down by a five-judge Constitution Bench.