NEW DELHI: Amid the spiralling controversy over the alleged recovery of cash from the official residence of Delhi high court judge Yashwant Varma, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday sounded out political parties on the need to think of a mechanism for putting an end to the “judges appointing judges” regime.
At a meeting with political parties, Dhankhar asked representatives of political parties to come together on the issue. Earlier, speaking in Rajya Sabha, he described the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, enacted in 2014 with unanimous support with a view to end the monopoly of the Supreme Court Collegium over appointment of judges of SC and HCs, as a “visionary step”. Dhankhar faulted the apex court’s decision to quash the law.
“Now is the befitting occasion to reiterate that it was a visionary step endorsed by Parliament,” Dhankhar said, remarks which he is learnt to have reiterated during a meeting leaders of political parties on fixing the accountability of judges.
In RS, Dhankhar also criticised SC’s decision to strike down the NJAC Act. “There is no constitutional provision of review or appeal of a constitutional amendment. If there is a legislation (passed) by Parliament or state legislatures, judicial review can take place only on whether it is in conformity with the constitutional provisions,” he said.
The deliberations were held against the backdrop of demands in both Houses of Parliament for a discussion over the alleged recovery of cash from Justice Varma’s official residence. Speaking in Rajya Sabha, Dhankhar said the country would have been spared of the scandal had the NJAC Act not been struck down by SC in 2015.
While the discussion with political parties remained inconclusive, it was decided to hold more rounds. Sources said Dhankhar, a vocal spokesperson for parliamentary supremacy, asserted that this was the time to do something about “judicial accountability“. Opposition leaders, including Congress president and leader of opposition in RS Mallikarjun Kharge and TMC’s Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, are learnt to have asked the govt to outline the steps it wants to take.
It is learnt that members cutting across party lines agreed that the fire-and-cash incident had raised serious concerns about the working of judiciary and that it must be addressed. According to a source, Trinamool MPs demanded the issue be discussed on the floor of the House, and not in the “antechamber”.
Leader of house in RS JP Nadda is learnt to have suggested that separate discussions be held with political parties on the course of action, including building a consensus on holding a discussion on the issue in the House, which was agreed upon by floor leaders.
The meeting was attended by leaders from BJP, including Nadda and Kiren Rijiju; Kharge and Jairam Ramesh from Congress, Sasmit Patra from BJD, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, DMK’s Tiruchi Siva, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut, CPM’s John Brittas, AAP’s Sanjay Singh, and members from YSRCP and AGP.
