Sachar seeks debate on existing system for judges' appointment

Justice (Retd) Rajindar Sachar has sounded a word of caution on the government's bid to replace the existing Collegium system for appointment of judges in the higher judiciary and called for a discussion on the issue.
Sachar also felt that a decision on the issue should not be taken by outgoing legislators questioning the moral justification of the outgoing MPs deciding over such an important Constitution amendment, when the elections are due latest by May 2014.
"Now that the Bill has gone to a standing committee, it is to be expected it will be widely circulated throughout the country so that the legal fraternity, law schools, journals and public men could have time to discuss it at leisure," he said.

Sachar also took a dig at Law Minister Kapil Sibal for his "strategy to get passed the Constitution Amendment 120th Bill and send it to the states for ratification without the details of the Judicial Appointment Commission being included in it," saying it would have been a "constitutional monstrosity".
He, however, made it clear that he was "not opposing the desirability of change from the present closed collegium system".
He said that both the government and Opposition in Parliament showed remarkable comradeship in "accusing the judiciary of all ills in society".
He said that the critics of the Collegium system must also answer the query raised by the present Chief Justice of India P Sathasivan wherein he has pointed out that a fair amount of consultation with the government takes place and the judiciary takes into account any negative facts brought out against the proposed appointee.