Jaitley suggests commission for elevation of judges

Against the backdrop of several politicians and jurists voicing reservation over the present Collegium system for appointment and promotion of judges, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Saturday suggested setting up of a commission to help shortlist candidates for elevation.

Against the backdrop of several politicians and jurists voicing reservation over the present Collegium system for appointment and promotion of judges, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Saturday suggested setting up of a commission to help shortlist candidates for elevation.

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"I support the idea of setting up a judicial commission for appointment (of judges). I had brought a Constitutional Amendment (as a Union Law Minister in NDA government) for the same," Jaitley, who is also Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, said here.

He said that over the years, he has evolved a theory that criteria of appointment, and not those who appoint judges, is important. The BJP leader suggested if five judges are to be elevated by the panel of judges, then it should have a choice of "best of 40" before it takes a final call.

He said at least a dozen criterion can be laid down for shortlisting judges for elevation by the Collegium, including his income tax returns, the number of juniors he has trained and his track record.

Jaitley was addressing a conference on '60 years of the Constitution: road ahead' organised by a lawyers' body.

Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Supreme Court Bar Association president M N Krishnamani said the collegium system was "secretive" and suggested setting up of National Commission for Judicial Appointments.