JETHMALANI ARGUES AGAINST NJAC

The intention of the present NDA government is to derogate the powers and primacy of the Chief Justice of India in appointment of judges and to give primacy to the executive, senior advocate Ram Jethmalani argued in the Supreme Court on Thursday. Making his submissions before a five-judge Constitution Bench, Mr Jethmalani said “the intention is to overrule the nine-judge Bench decision giving primacy to the CJI and the collegium and the NJAC Act was mischievous.” He said the previous UPA government brought a bill under which Article 124 was amended to provide for setting up of the NJAC. The Bill was passed in Rajya Sabha on September 5, 2013 with 130:1, he being the sole opposition.