Rajasthan likely to become first state to pass NJAC Bill

NEW DELHI: Rajasthan is likely to become the first state to endorse the National Judicial Appointments Commission bill passed by Parliament. The Constitution amendment bill requires endorsement of at least half the number of state assemblies.

Several BJP MLAs and Cabinet Ministers from Rajasthan told ET that the Vasundhara Raje-led government has called a special, unscheduled session of the state assembly beginning Monday for getting “some bills passed” including the bill for appointment of higher judiciary.

“The session will be held for at least four days, till Friday. While I can’t say for certain, since I haven’t yet seen the agenda or this issue did not come up in the hurried cabinet meeting held last night, the judicial appointments bill is likely to be placed in this session,” said Power Minister Gajendra Singh Khinvsar. When asked why an unscheduled assembly session was called suddenly, Khinvsar it was being done to “get some bills passed”.

Senior BJP MLA from Jaipur’s Shahpura constituency, Rao Rajendra Singh, also echoed the minister, while speaking with ET: “This short session appears to have been called to pass the amendment to the judges appointment bill. As per my understanding, at least 15 state assembles have to pass it. Since we are part of the treasury, we only have the right to say a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the Constitution amendment. We can make suggestions about changes, if any, to the bill but it is up to the Centre to make a decision about it,” Singh said.