A seemingly innocuous Delhi High Court Amendment Bill generated a lively debate in Lok Sabha today, eliciting a number of announcements from Law and Justice Minister Arun Jaitley, including the possibility of setting up a National Judicial Commission, a Supreme Court Bench in South India and amendment of Contempt of Court Act. The Centre, in principle, had agreed to all the decisions, he said. The Delhi High Court Amendment Bill, enhancing the limit of civil jurisdiction of the court from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh, was later passed by a voice vote. The Bill’s aim, according to Jaitley, was to reduce pendency of cases in Delhi High Court (which was 1.5 lakh) and hasten judgements. Responding to the debate earlier, where questions were raised about the conduct of judges, the legislature being overpowered by judiciary and corruption in the system, Jaitley said a National Judicial Commission may soon be set up to deal with appointment of judges and also look into complaints against them, which do not warrant their removal. The Cabinet has cleared the proposal which is now at ‘‘an advanced stage’’ and will be brought before the Parliament soon, he added. Regarding Contempt of Courts Act, he said the Government had already decided to amend it. ‘‘It has already been decided to loosen the rigours of the Act and to make truth a permissible defence. Earlier truth was not a permissible defence in contempt of court cases,’’ Jaitley said. About the setting up of a separate SC bench outside Delhi, he said that it was the view of Centre and also of Parliament, conveyed through the Standing Committee, that a bench outside was needed, ‘‘one each in South and the Northeast.’’ However, he said, the quantum of cases was not much in Northeast, but one in South was definitely required. Replying to another issue raised by some members, including Margaret Alva of Congress, Jaitley said it was the Centre’s endeavour to ensure adequate representation of women, SCs and weaker sections in the judiciary. ‘‘I have been reiterating the point to all chief justices. Once the National Judicial Commission comes, even this shall be sorted out,’’ he said. Kicking off the debate, Alva had stressed on the need to look into the functioning and role of judiciary, specially in view of one High Court judge having been arrested by the CBI. She also questioned the contempt of court law, saying that nobody dare criticise the judiciary for the fear of being hauled up in the court. ‘‘Judges behave as if they are above law. I dare to say that there is more corruption in judiciary than in bureaucracy or the political system,’’ she said. Alva also raised the issue of judicial activism, saying that she wasn’t sure who was running the country. ‘‘Judges decide on what buses to run, drinking water and cleaning of rivers. The time has come to draw the line as to what areas should be open for judicial review,’’ she said, adding there was a need to overhaul and restore credibility of the judiciary. She was supported by many other members.
