Question

Fill in the blanks:
Choose the pair of words which complete the sentence to make logical sense.
The NDA led Government notified the ..... and the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, thus ending the over two-decade old .... of appointing judges of Supreme Court and high courts. Under the new law, a six member panel headed by ....... will select judges of the apex court and state high courts.

• A. $99$th Constitutional (Amendment) Act, $2015$, collegium system, the Chief Justice of India.
• B. $121$st Constitutional (Amendment) Act, $2015$, collegium system, the Union Law Minister.
• C. $121$st Constitutional (Amendment) Act, $2015$, collegium system, the Prime Minister.
• D. $99$th Constitutional (Amendment) Act, $2015$, cabinet system, the Prime Minister.

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

As per the constitution, as held by the court in the Three judges case,(1982, 1993, 1998), a judge is appointed to the supreme court by the president on the recommendation of the collegium.

The collegium system has come under a fair amount of criticism.This was struck down as unconstitutional by the supreme court, in the fourth judges case, as the new system would undermine the independence of the judiciary.

After a year of wrangling in the courtroom between the judiciary and the executive, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Friday struck down the constitutional amendment that introduced a six-member panel for selecting judges to the higher judiciary, declaring it unconstitutional.

Its six members will include the Chief Justice of India (CJI), two most senior judges of the Supreme Court, the law minister, and two eminent persons. The two eminent persons would be nominated by a panel comprising the Prime Minister, CJI and leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha.