On the uniform civil code, Meghwal reiterated that it is part of the government’s agenda, aligning with the BJP’s successive manifestos…reports Asian Lite News
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal affirmed on Tuesday that implementing a uniform civil code is part of the government’s agenda. He also addressed the pending finalisation of the memorandum of procedure (MoP) for the appointment, elevation, and transfer of high court and Supreme Court judges, and dismissed suggestions of conflict between the executive and judiciary.
Meghwal assumed his role as Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Law and Justice, a position he held in the previous Modi government. He pledged to fill vacancies in the Supreme Court, high courts, and subordinate courts promptly.
Regarding simultaneous polls, Meghwal noted that a committee led by former president Ram Nath Kovind had submitted its report, and further information would be provided later. He mentioned that the Law Commission is also working on the subject, though its chairperson, Justice (Retd.) Ritu Raj Awasthi, recently moved to the Lokpal.
On the uniform civil code, Meghwal reiterated that it is part of the government’s agenda, aligning with the BJP’s successive manifestos.
Addressing the MoP issue, Meghwal expressed optimism about finding a solution, stating that the government had communicated with the Supreme Court collegium. Finalizing the MoP and addressing judicial vacancies and case backlogs are key challenges for Meghwal. As of June 1, there are two vacancies in the Supreme Court and 345 in the high courts, with over five crore cases pending across various courts.
The Constitution (99th Amendment) Act, 2014, and the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2014, aimed at replacing the Collegium system with a more transparent mechanism, were passed by Parliament but later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2015. The top court instructed that the government, in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, may finalise the MoP. Despite ongoing discussions, the MoP’s finalisation remains unresolved.
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