| A bill to change the system of appointing or promoting judges faces its last test in Parliament today before it becomes law.
Voting on the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill will take place in the Rajya Sabha a day after it was passed unanimously in the Lok Sabha.
Objections raised by the opposition may be a worry for the Narendra Modi government, which is in a minority in the 250-member Rajya Sabha, with 60 members. The support of the Congress, which has 69 members, is essential to pass legislation. (To Ensure Support For Judges Appointment Bill, Government Drops a Word)
The opposition has questioned the propriety of a Constitutional amendment bill presented at the same time as the judges' appointment bill. The government says the bill is essential to make a provision for the new Commission in the Constitution. The opposition says the Constitutional Amendment Bill has to be cleared by states before the judges' appointment bill can be taken up. (Most Top Jurors Want Collegium System to Be Changed, Attorney General Tells NDTV) |