Press Releases Archive

Dr.JP to meet parliamentary panel on Judicial Appointments Bill

Lok Satta Party national President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan and a team of senior leaders will be meeting the Parliamentary Standing Committee on The Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2013, in New Delhi on Wednesday, November 13.

It may be recalled that the Constitution (120th Amendment) Bill, 2013 providing for creation a Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) is the culmination of the initiative taken by the Lok Satta.

The Lok Satta had brought together three eminent jurists of unimpeachable integrity and credibility to come up with proposals for judicial appointments and constitution of an Indian Judicial Service. The three judges – Chief Justice M. N. Venkatachalaiah, Chief Justice J. S. Verma and Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer – produced a report recommending formation of a National Judicial Commission for appointment of judges in higher courts and an Indian Judicial Service for competitive, nation-wide recruitment of judges at the district judge level.

The Bill, already adopted by the Rajya Sabha, is a modified version of the proposals made by the three eminent judges. It associates the executive, legislature and judiciary in the appointment of higher judges and does away with the system of the Supreme Court appointing judges of higher courts.

The Lok Satta has all along maintained that usurpation of the power to appoint judges by the Supreme Court is plainly unconstitutional, and violates the principle of checks and balance in relation to organs of the State. The system in practice has been found to be unsatisfactory and undermining the quality and credibility of the judiciary.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013 - 15:37

Lok Satta decries KCR’s threat to Demolish Metro Rail stretches

The Lok Satta Party today took strong exception to TRS President K. Chandrasekhara Rao’s reported threat to demolish Metro Rail in certain stretches. It amounts to cutting the face to spite the nose, commented State Lok Satta Party President Katari Srinivasa Rao at a media conference here today.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said he is glad that the TRS, which had not contested even a single seat in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections in 2009 is focusing on city residents’ problems at least now. People, however, expect the TRS to play a constructive and not a destructive role.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao recalled that KCR himself acknowledged that it takes three hours by road to attend a wedding in Hyderabad where one spends hardly a few minutes. Does KCR plan to subject lakhs of daily commuters to greater suffering by derailing a modern transport system like Metro Rail, he asked.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao pointed out that traffic problems in some metropolises have acted as a dampener on new investments. In contrast, Metro Rail in Hyderabad is progressing at a brisk pace in Hyderabad although the entire State is regressing because of paralysis in administration. People who were taken aback by the crash of a section of the Punjagutta flyover under construction in the past are happy over the way Metro Rail Works are being carried out. In fact, thee are demands for extension of Metro Rail to places like Lingampalli and Vanasthalipuram.

Referring to KCR’s demand for taking up Metro Rail works underground at places like Sultan Bazar, Mojamjahi Market and the Assembly, Mr. Srinivasa Rao said that according to experts an underground railway system causes more vibrations than one above the ground.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said that underground construction costs Rs.500 crore per km as against only Rs.200 crore for overground construction, takes up to four to five years and results in permanent closure of certain road stretches. Protecting a heritage building like that of the Assembly is important, Mr. Srinivasa Rao conceded, but added that dignified discussions in the House would have enhanced its prestige more.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said that KCR need not wait for Telangana formation if either the Chief Minister or L & T, the Metro Rail builder, has indulged in irregularities or corruption. He can expose them straightway and seek legal remdies including entrustment of the work to another agency. He need not indulge in demolition talk.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said that people all over the State in almost all spheres have become victims of corruption and extortion. Corruption can be eradicated only if a strong Lokayukta is instituted and steps taken for swift punishment of the guilty including confiscation of their ill-gotten wealth. KCR should mobilize political support for the amendment proposed by Lok Satta Party legislator and Lok Satta Party national President to the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao congratulated ISRO scientists on successfully placing Mars Orbiter in the earth’s orbit.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 - 17:01

Pages