Goa Assembly ratifies Judicial Accountability Bill

PANAJI: Goa Legislative Assembly today ratified the Judicial Accountability Bill 2014, already approved by Parliament, in a one-day session convened specially for the purpose.

The bill proposes to scrap the existing collegium system for appointment of judges in higher judiciary and was passed by both Houses of Parliament a few months back.

The new measure of appointing judges to Supreme Court and High Courts would come into effect only after ratification of the Constitution Amendment Bill by 50 per cent state assemblies.

As the session began this morning, a resolution was passed condoling the death of Prof Bipan Chandra (historian), Mohammed Fazal (former Governor), V K Naik (film producer), Ashok Kelkar (language expert), Shankar Vaidya (poet), Madhukar Mordekar (freedom fighter) and Madhav Kamath (journalist).

Assembly Speaker Rajendra Arlekar passed the resolution. In the 40-member House, the bill was passed by a voice vote except Independent MLA Vijay Sardesai.

In his speech, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar supported the legislation.