NEW DELHI, Nov 19 � Seeking an early end to the collegium system of judges appointing judges, Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda has written to state governments to ratify the National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill which will put in place a new mechanism to select Supreme Court and High Court judges, reports PTI.
The Constitution Amendment Bill requires ratification by at least 50 per cent of the state legislatures. Goa, Rajasthan and Tripura legislatures have already ratified the Bill.
Gowda hoped that since winter sessions of state legislatures are lined up in the coming days, the required number of ratifications could be completed soon. He said that according to media reports, the Gujarat Assembly has also ratified the legislation.
�I have written to the Chief Ministers for ratification of the Bill,� Gowda told reporters here today.
The Parliament had in August cleared a Constitution Amendment Bill that will facilitate setting up of a commission for appointment of judges, replacing the 20-year-old collegium system, which has been under severe criticism.
After ratification, the government will send it to the President for his assent. The Bill will make way for the setting up of National Judicial Appointments Commission, which will appoint and transfer judges to the SC and the 24 High Courts.
