NJAC to deal with additiol judges till pendency, apex court told

New Delhi, April 23: The central government on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that during the pendency of the appeal against the tiol Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) and the constitutiol amendment backing it, the commission would only deal with cases of additiol judges whose terms would be coming to an end.

The constitution bench comprising Justice JS Khehar, Justice J Chelameswar, Justice Madan B Lokur, Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice AK Goel recorded the statement of Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi that the NJAC, which would be operatiolised shortly, will only deal with the appointment of existing additiol judges.

At the outset of the hearing on Thursday to decide on the fate of additiol judges whose term may be coming to an end during the hearing of the challenge to the NJAC, the attorney general told the court that the constitution of the NJAC will be completed by the selection and appointment of two eminent people.

Consequent upon the nomition of two eminent people to the commission during the pendency of the proceeding, the NJAC will deal with the cases of additiol judges.

Attorney General Rohatgi told the court that the first batch of three additiol judges who will complete their tenure will be from Assam on May 20.

The next will be of 7-8 judges from the Bombay High Court in the month of June. Then there will be no cases in July and August. Then the cases of additiol judges for confirmation or extension of tenure would come in September only.

Sharing the concern of counsel Fali riman appearing for the Supreme Court Advocate-on-Record Association (SCAORA) on the fate of additiol judges, Rohatgi said he too does not want that after two years, an additiol judge is called to go home. IANS