New SC bench will hear challenges to NJAC Act

A day after Justice AR Dave declined to hear petitions challenging the constitutional validity of National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, the Chief Justice of India on Thursday constituted a new bench to take up the matter.

A day after Justice AR Dave declined to hear petitions challenging the constitutional validity of National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, the Chief Justice of India on Thursday constituted a new bench to take up the matter.

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The petitions would come up for a hearing before the new bench on April 21. Supreme Court sources said Justice JS Kehar is likely to head the five-judge bench. The others members – Justices J Chelameswar, Madan B Lokur, Kurien Joseph and AK Goel – would continue to be a part of it. Justice Kehar is in line to become the Chief Justice of India.

Justice Dave, who became a member of the NJAC under the new law, recused himself from heading the five-judges bench after the petitioner, the Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association (SCAORA), said there would be a conflict of interest.

The NJAC was notified on April 13. President Pranab Mukherjee gave his assent to the new law on December 31, 2014.