SC nod for draft paper on judges appointment

Having trashed the NDA government’s National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) law last month, the Supreme Court lobbed(throw or hit (a ball or missile) in a high arc) the ball back into the Centre’s court by accepting an offer made by Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi on Wednesday to prepare a draft memorandum replacing the 1999 one laying down the procedure to be followed while appointing judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts.

A five-judge Constitution Bench, led by Justice J.S. Khehar, gave Mr. Rohatgi a broad outline of what they expected from the draft memorandum, including the establishment of an independent secretariat to help the collegium( A group whose members pursue shared goals while working within a framework of mutual trust and respect).

Evaluation of complaints

Another suggestion was to have the government and the judiciary equally share the burden of evaluation of complaints received against shortlisted judicial candidates.

The Bench suggested that complaints regarding the professional performance of the candidates as judges or lawyers would be evaluated by the judiciary, while the government would probe charges against candidates’ integrity.

Data that may be helpful:

Meanings:-

• lobbed :- throw or hit (a ball or missile) in a high arc
• collegium :- A group whose members pursue shared goals while working within a framework of mutual trust and respect 

Important Points:-

• National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) was a proposed body which would have been responsible for the appointment and transfer of judges to the higher judiciary in India.

Source :- The Hindu, 20- Nov- 2015