Lok Sabha passes bill to increase judges in Supreme Court

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad used the opportunity to urge the judiciary against making “sweeping commentary” while hearing cases.

Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill which seeks to increase the number of Supreme Court judges from the present 30 to 33 with a view to reduce pendency of cases.

A bill which sought to bar judges from making “sweeping remarks” against another constitutional authority was brought by the previous UPA government, but lapsed following the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha.(HT image)

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad used the opportunity to urge the judiciary against making “sweeping commentary” while hearing cases.

“They should have the courage to write it in judgements and give reasons,” he said while responding to the debate on the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2019.

A bill which sought to bar judges from making “sweeping remarks” against another constitutional authority was brought by the previous UPA government, but lapsed following the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha.

Responding on concerns raised by members over differences within the Supreme Court Judges, Prasad said differences within the judiciary should not come out in the open and they should be settled within and the government should not have any role in it.

Responding to a question on the request made by the Chief Justice of India to increase the retirement age of High Court Judges, he said the matter has to be looked into its totality as others including the three service chiefs and bureaucrats could also demand the same.

A Constitutional Amendment bill brought by the UPA government to increase the retirement age of High Court Judges from 62 to 65 lapsed and it never came up for discussion in the 15th Lok Sabha. With several members raising questions over the Supreme Court striking down the National Judicial Appointments law, he said while the government accepts the verdict, he has never agreed on the reasoning given in the order.