Parliament passes Constitutional Amendment Bill

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha passed the Constitution (121st Amendment) Bill, 2014 on Thursday and is set to pass the National Judicial Appointments Bill.

While 176 members voted in favour of the Constitution Amendment Bill, no votes were registered against it.

The Lok Sabha had on Wednesday already passed the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill and Constitutional Amendment Bill.

While Constitution Amendment Bill seeks to put the proposed Commission and its entire composition in the Constitution, the other legislation lays down the procedure to be followed by the proposed body for appointment of Supreme Court judges and transfer and appointment of chief justices and other judges of the high courts.

The government asserted that the measure was aimed at ensuring that only meritorious people are selected as judges to the higher courts.