Judges accountability Bill before Cabinet today

The Union Cabinet on Thursday will take up for approval the draft Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill,aimed at addressing complaints of corruption....

The Union Cabinet on Thursday will take up for approval the draft Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill,aimed at addressing complaints of corruption,irregularities or misbehaviour against sitting judges of high courts and Surpreme Court,including the Chief Justice of India.

The Bill proposes to set up a National Judicial Oversight Committee,likely to be headed by Vice-President Hamid Ansari with distinguished jurists as members that will receive the complaints against the sitting judges. Law Minister Veerappa Moily has earlier stated that he is keen to bring the Bill in the ongoing Budget session.

The government proposes to have two scrutiny committees one for the Supreme Court and the other for high courts. In the case of the CJI,the Oversight Committee will examine the complaint and take the final call on whether it should be referred to the proposed investigation committee under the proposed law.

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To make the working of the Oversight Committee transparent and effective,the proposed law aims to bestow upon it all the powers as are enjoyed by a civil court. These would empower the committee to summon witnesses or any other person and examine them on oath,record evidence,accept affidavits,etc.

The draft Bill also provides for punishment,including a prison term and/or a fine,if somebody files a complaint against a member of the higher judiciary for ulterior motives.