Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday said the House needs to discuss the powers and limitations of the three-pillars of democracy — judiciary, legislature and executive — as an Elder made a strong case for an all-India examination for selection of judges in high courts and the Supreme Court. Cutting across party lines, the members backed Ashok Bajpai(BJP) who made this assertion.
Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, he said the Constitution does not mention the word ‘collegium’, though it is currently being used for appointments and transfers of judges in the higher judiciary.
He also referred to an Allahabad High Court judge recently writing to the Prime Minister that appointments are not being made on the basis of merit and nepotism prevailed in such appointments and deserving candidates missed the chance.
Bajpai suggested that there should be an all-India examination conducted to ensure that meritorious candidates get into higher judiciary. Members cutting across party lines endorsed his suggestion.
Observing that overwhelming members are of the same opinion, the Chairman said “we need to discuss” during one of the discussions, particularly the issue of the judiciary, legislature and executive and their powers and limitations.
Amongst other issues to figure in the Upper House, the AIADMK and DMK on Monday urged the central government to cancel the postal department examination for postmen and other posts and hold it afresh with questions in Tamil language also.
Raising the issue, A Navaneethakrishnan(AIADMK) said questions in the postal department’s examination for appointments of postmen and assistants in rural areas held on Sunday were only in Hindi and English, and not Tamil. He asked the central government to cancel the examination.
Tiruchi Siva (DMK) said the recent circular issued by the central government to the postal department has brought a sense of agitation in the minds of the youth in Tamil Nadu. He said earlier the practice was to conduct the examination in Hindi, English and regional languages. Asserting that not holding examination in regional language was “totally unwarranted” and demanded the revocation of the circular and maintaining status quo.
Naidu said the matter raised by members was very important and asked the Leader of the House Thawarchand Gehlot to look into the issue. “I have already talked to the minister (concerned), you please talk to the minister,” Naidu said.
In the backdrop of a mishap on Yamuna Expressway some days back where more than 20 people died, T Subbarami Reddy(Congress) called for scientific investigations like some advanced countries into such fatal accidents. He also more than 11,000 people die in road accidents every year. Backing his contention Surendra Singh Nagar(Samajwadi Party) called for making it mandatory for all car manufacturers to impart training to drivers in safety measures.
Demands to raise royalty on coal, roll back of steep hike in airfares between Kerala and Gulf region and government intervention to help release fishermen captured by Pakistan were among other issues raised in the Rajya Sabha.
Shanta Chhetri (TMC) raised the issue of death of a person after his hand got stuck between two sliding doors of the Kolkata Metro on Saturday last. She alleged passenger safety was being compromised with by the Railway Ministry and demanded immediate allocation of funds for proper maintenance and upgrade of the metro rail. Satyanarayan Jatiya (BJP) raised the issue of inter- linking of rivers to solve problem of drought.