SC Restrains HCs From Entertaining Pleas Against NJAC Act

11 March , New Delhi

The Supreme Court Wednesday restrained all High Courts from entertaining any petition challenging the validity of Constitutional Amendment Act and National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, meant to replace the Collegium system.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice A R Dave said that it will decide later as to whether the petitions are maintainable or not and if they should be referred to a larger bench.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Centre, vehemently opposed the submissions seeking a stay on the two legislations, saying they are premature as the Acts are yet to be notified. The bench also comprising justices J Chelameswar and Madan B Lokur, has now fixed the hearing on the batch of petitions for 17th March. On Tuesday , the apex court commenced the hearing on the validity of the Acts.

During the arguments, senior advocates Fali Nariman and Anil Divan, who appeared for Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association and an advocate, had alleged that the NJAC Act would take away and knock down the independence of judiciary.