'Cabinet must have a say in appointment of judges'

Government on Monday said it is willing to seek the view of Members of Parliament on the issue.

Favouring a greater say for cabinet in appointment of judges vis-a-vis the judiciary, Government on Monday said it is willing to seek the view of Members of Parliament on the issue.

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In reply to a query raised by former Law Minister and BJP member Ravi Shankar Prasad on whether the government would consider going back to the 1993 status of restoring the cabinet say in the matter, Law and Justice Minister HR Bhardwaj said he was willing to take the viewpoint of members in this regard.

"The cabinet decisions are circumscribed by the judiciary. We would like the cabinet should have a major say," Bharadwaj said during Question Hour.

He said a 9-member bench of the Supreme Court in 1993 had taken the view that the weightage for appointment must be placed with the judiciary.

Later, one of the judges of the bench went back on his views, the Minister observed.