Supreme Court declares NJAC Unconstitutional, upholds Collegium

In a big jolt to the Centre and Parliament, the Supreme Court struck down the National Judicial Appointment Commission (NJAC), terming it unconstitutional. The SC upheld the constitutionality of the present collegium system of appointment judge.

The apex court terms NJAC is in violation of basic structure of constitution and said the independence of judiciary must be maintained. The court feared that the proposed NJAC would be tantamount to political interference.

The parliament had unanimously voted in favour of the NJAC law and the Constitutional Amendment. The bill was later ratified by 20 State Assemblies and had received the Presidential assent.