AIBA wants changes in judges’ appointment in top courts

New Delhi, January 7: The All India Bar Association (AIBA) on Wednesday sought changes in the manner judges are appointed to high courts and the Supreme Court and formation of four benches of the apex court in the country.

Supporting the tiol Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) system to appoint and transfer judges, AIBA chairman and senior advocate Adish C Aggarwala urged Prime Minister rendra Modi to ensure that the two eminent persolities who would be involved in the selection and appointment of judges of higher judiciary would be neither advocates nor relatives of advocates or judges.

"It is suggested that the eminent persolities should not be lawyers or relatives of any judge or practising lawyer. This is required so that the nomited members can work impartially, without any bias and influence of any kind," Aggarwala said.

Copies of the representation made to Modi were also sent to Law Minister DV Sadanda Gowda and Chief Justice HL Dattu.

Hinting at disproportiote representation of some states in the Supreme Court, Aggarwala said Maharashtra had three judges in the apex court while Uttar Pradesh, with double the population, had only two judges.

"There is only one judge each from Bihar, West Bengal and the northeastern states," he said in a statement. He added that there was no judge from Rajasthan, Chattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh.

Aggarwala said that appointment and elevation of judges should be solely on the basis of merit.

The AIBA chairman also sought the creation of four benches of the Supreme Court in the east, west, northeast and south zones.

In order to usher in sense of responsibility and urgency, and eradicate waste of precious court time, Aggarwala also sought video recording of all court proceedings.

AIBA sought change in the existing norm of appointing chief justices of high courts from other courts.

It said that retired judge should not be appointed in any tribul or commissions and said only sitting judges should be appointed to such posts after the sanctioned strength of judge posts was increased suitably. (IANS)