‘Need to broad-base appointments of judges'

Law and Justice Minister Ashwani Kumar said yesterday that there was a need to broad-base the process of appointing judges to the Supreme Court and high courts. Kumar admitted that “the present process had not proved to be adequate and there was a need to relook and revisit the issue.” Currently, judges are appointed by a five-judge Supreme Court collegium. Kumar said that the ministry was ready with a draft bill for setting up the National Judicial Appointments Commission, which will have legislative representation as well, besides the judiciary.