Complaints against judges to go to National Judicial Council

New Delhi, Nov 9 (UNI) A National Judicial Council will be set up to deal with complaints against judges of the High Court and the Supreme Court to ensure accountability and transparency in the functioning of the higher judiciary in the country.

The Council would be constituted under a proposed Act for which the draft of the Judges (Inquiry) Bill, 2006 was approved by the Cabinet today, Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters.

The Council would consist of the Chief Justice of India, two senior most judges of the Supreme Court, who would be nominated by the Chief Justice, two Chief Justices of the High Courts, also to be nominated by the Chief Justice irrespective of their seniority.

In the case of a complaint/reference against a Judge of the Supreme Court, the council would consist of the Chief Justice of India and the four senior most Judges of the Supreme Court who would be nominated by the Chief Justice.

The Bill, finalised on the recommendations of the Law Commission, would be introduced in the winter session of Parliament beginning on November 22.

All the stakeholders would be consulted before the passage of the Bill, which was likely to be referred to the relevant Parliamentary Standing Committee, Mr Chidambaram said.

The provision for the council was being made in addition to the existing law for impeachment of a Supreme Court Judge in Parliament, the Minister said.

Accountability of the lower judiciary was being ensured by the respective High Courts.

UNI SN RP DS1557