Gujarat Assembly ratifies Judicial Appointments Bill

GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat Assembly today ratified the National Judicial Appointments Bill with a voice vote.

Both Houses of Parliament had already ratified the constitutional amendment to set up a judicial appointment panel to replace the existing collegium system for appointment of Supreme Court and High Court judges.

The new measure for appointing judges would come into effect only after ratification of the Constitution Amendment Bill by 50 per cent state assemblies.

After placing the bill before Assembly today, state Legislative Affairs Minister Ramanlal Vora said, "The bill was passed in both Houses of Parliament. Now it is necessary that at least 50 per cent of all the state assemblies ratify the same."

Joining the debate before the vote, senior Congress MLA Shaktisinh Gohil gave his party's nod to the bill.

"After much deliberations, many experts felt that the collegium system of appointment of judges needs to be scrapped. That is why both Houses of Parliament had approved the bill. I believe that the new system will bring reforms in judicial system," Gohil said in his address.

BJP MLA from Ahmedabad, Jagroopsinh Rajput said the legislation would ease the problem of pending cases.

"We many at times see media reports saying that numerous cases are pending in courts. This is mainly because many posts of High Court and Supreme Court judges are not filled. The new system would expedite the appointments of judges," he said.

After the debate, the bill was passed with a voice vote.

In the 182-member House, ruling BJP has 120 MLAs, Congress 58, NCP 2, Janata Dal 1, Independent (supporting BJP) 1.

Assemblies of Rajasthan and Goa have already ratified the bill.