The parliamentary committee is considering to bring in a constitutional amendment to increase the role of the parliament in the appointment of the superior courts’ judges. According to the details, a meeting of the parliamentary committee on Friday decided to conduct interviews of nominated judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) before appointing them.
The draft of the new legislations has been created for the further process. It may take some time till it becomes a formal part of the appointment process for the High Courts’ judges.
Parliamentary committee to interview judges before appointment at #IslamabadHighCourt#DialoguePakistan
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— Dialogue Pakistan (@DialoguePak) November 29, 2019
The committee made it clear that “if a candidate does not appear for an interview, his/her appointment would be considered cancelled,” according to the draft.
It stated that the parliamentary committee, on suspicion, would be able to summon/invite or interview any person applying for the post of a superior judiciary judge. It added that the candidate, whose appointment as a judge was under consideration, might also be interviewed, adding that the new rules also provided procedures for rejected cases.
The new amended draft empowers the parliamentary committee to constitute a subcommittee. “Members who do not attend three consecutive meetings will have their membership cancelled,” it added.
The amendment would enable the parliamentary committee to have a final say in appointment of judges, which would not be challenged in court
The committee meeting would be held again on December 4, 2019. There would be a formal election process for the appointment of a new chairman in the meeting. The newly-elected chairman would chair the committee for six months.
It was decided to invite for an interview the candidate nominated by the Judicial Commission for appointment as the Islamabad High Court judge.
Further, the parliamentary committee had reservations over the appointment of judges as it felt that it had become a rubber stamp to approve or confirm nomination of judges sent by the Judicial Commission. The committee was of the view that its meetings were a waste of time as its recommendations had no weightage in view of the superior court judgements.
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The committee had decided that it would not hold any meetings to consider the Judicial Commission recommendations till it had a meaningful role in the process of appointment of judges in the superior courts.
Article 175-A
Under Article 175-A of the Constitution, the Judicial Commission recommended names of judges for appointment in the superior judiciary whereas the parliamentary committee validated or approved them. The committee called upon the government to place before parliament a constitutional amendment bill aimed at strengthening the role of the parliamentary committee in the appointment of judges.
Notably, in the United States of America, the Supreme Court justices, court of appeals judges, and district court judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate, as stated in the Constitution.
The amendment would enable the parliamentary committee to have a final say in appointment of judges, which would not be challenged in court.
How are Superior Court Judges Appointed in the USA and India?
Notably, in the United States of America, the Supreme Court justices, court of appeals judges, and district court judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate, as stated in the Constitution. The names of potential nominees are often recommended by senators or sometimes by members of the House who are of the President’s political party. The Senate Judiciary Committee typically conducts confirmation hearings for each nominee. Article III of the Constitution states that these judicial officers are appointed for a life term. The federal Judiciary, the Judicial Conference of the United States, and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts play no role in the nomination and confirmation process.
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In the case of India, the Chief Justice of a High Court is appointed by the President with the consultation of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Governor of the State. The other judges are appointed by the will of President, Governor and the Chief Justice of High Court.
Qualifications for a candidate to be appointed as HC Judge:
(a) He/she should be a citizen of India.
(b) He/she should have been (I) a judge for 10 years of Subordinate court under the Judicial Service of the State or (ii) an Advocate for 10 years in a High Courts in India (Article 217).