UP House passes resolution to amend Judicial Appointments Bill

Uttar Pradesh Assembly today passed a resolution seeking to amend the National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2014 to include Chief Minister, Leader of the Opposition and Chief Justice of the High Court in the collegium for selecting two eminent persons in the commission.
Samajwadi Party member and senior minister Ambika Chaudahry moved the resolution for amendment in the Bill passed by Parliament seeking a role for the respective state legislature in case of such appointment in the high courts.
He sought to replace the Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India and leader of the single largest party in Lok Sabha in the committe for selection of two eminent persons in the collegium with the Chief Minister, Chief Justice of the High Court and Leader of the Opposition.

Though BSP and Congress members supported the resolution, BJP opposed it stressing that SP had welcomed the Bill in Parliament without a word that states should be given power for the appointment of the High Court judges.
Chaudhury, however, pointed out that if the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition or the leader of the largest opposition party could be part of the committee to select the members of the Commission, the CM and leader of the opposition should also get a chance under the federal structure.
Radha Mohan Das Agarwal (BJP) opposed the amendment saying it would again have to be passed by Parliament.

Suresh Kumar Khanna (BJP) questioned as to why SP was raising such issue when they kept silent in Parliament.

With BSP and Congress supporting the resolution, it was passed by the House by voice vote.
Under the central bill the six-member national judicial appointments commission will have four members in the form of Chief Justice of India, law miniser and two senior members of the supreme court.
The remaining two members who would be eminent personalities would be selected by a three-member committee of the Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India and leader of the single largest party in Parliament.