Govt for fresh Bill to rein in erring judges

New Delhi, February 7

The government favours bringing afresh a Bill which seeks to change the present system of probing complaints of “misbehaviour and incapacity” against judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.

The Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill was brought by the UPA government but had lapsed following the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha in 2014. Now, the Narendra Modi government wants to bring afresh the legislation with certain changes.

“A mandate... to inculcate independence, impartiality and accountability among judges should be considered without delay. This could be done by reintroducing a modified Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill,” a Law Ministry note says.

Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha in December, Law Minister DV Sadananda Gowda said, “The Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill has lapsed... we are working on it.”  — PTI