The Constitution Amendment Bill providing for the Executive a say in the appointment of judges of higher judiciary is likely to be taken up for consideration by the Rajya Sabha later this week.
At the same time, the main bill aimed at creating a Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) for the purpose of appointing judges to the Supreme Court and 24 High Courts is likely to be referred to a Parliamentary panel for vetting.
By the time the Standing Committee on Law gives its report, the Constituion (120th) Amendment Bill, 2013 is likely get the necessary ratification by 50 per cent of the states.
"Once the Constitutiobal Amendment bill is passed and ratified by states, the establishment of JAC will become a fate accompli," a senior government functionary said today.
Overcoming resistance from the judiciary, a Bill to scrap the collegium system of appointing judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts was introduced in the Rajya Sabha last week.
The Bill, which entails Constitutional amendment, seeks to set up a Judicial Appointments Commission to recommend appointment and transfer of the Supreme Court and High Court judges.
With the creation of the proposed body, the Executive seeks to have a say in appointment of members to the higher judiciary.
The Bill seeks to set up a panel headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) to appoint and transfer senior judges.
The other members of the proposed Commission would be two senior-most judges of the Supreme Court, the Law Minister, two eminent persons as members and Secretary (Justice) in the Law Ministry as Convener.
