National Judicial Council should cover Chief Justice of India: Verma

New Delhi, Nov 16 (UNI) Former Chief Justice of India J S Verma has opined the Chief Justice of India should be brought under the proposed National Judicial Council, but asserted the Prime Minister be kept out of the purview of the proposed Lok Pal Bill.

Describing the new Judges (Inquiry) Bill as "much diluted" as compared to what was contemplated when he was the Chief Justice of India, Justice Verma said the post of Chief Justice of India should not be exempted from the purview of the proposed council. "Chief Justice and all judges are alike," he said, while participating in a panel discussion on the subject, to be aired on the Lok Sabha Television as part of its "Countdown to Winter Session" series tomorrow.

While suggesting that the Lok Pal Bill should not be applicable to the Prime Minister, he, however, said Chief Justice of India's position and office should not be equated with the Prime Minister's office.

"Prime Minister should not be within the purview of the Lok Pal, if and whenit comes...The Prime Minister being under a cloud, the country cannot function...there is a political process to get rid of a Prime Minister who should not be the..I do not equate the Chief Justice's position and office, which I myself held (with that of the Prime Minister). I am not saying it now. I said it even when I was holding the office of Chief Justice that Prime Minister should not be brought under the purview of the Lok Pal.

"I would equate the Chief Justice of India with the other judges of the Supreme Court because this (exempting CJI) could give an impression to the other judges that this is an indirect way of subordinating them which the Constitution does not envisage," Justice Verma said.

He did not think the Chief Justice of India would be upset about this.

On the question of power to remove the judges, Justice Verma said it should remain with Parliament.

He agreed with a panelist that the proposed National Judicial Council should be empowered to examine the complaints that may arise out of the post retirement activities of the Judges.

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