New Delhi: Union Law Minister Jana Krishnamurthi has mooted creation of a separate constitutional authority to head the proposed National Judicial Commission (NJC) instead of the Chief Justice of India as recommended by the Constitution Review Commission.

"The Constitution Review Commission (CRC) has suggested setting up of NJC with representatives of executive and judiciary with the Chief Justice of India (CJI) heading it. But I would like to go one more step forward and suggest a constitutional authority to head the proposed Commission," Krishnamurthi said releasing a book titled 'The Citizen and Judicial Reforms under Indian Polity' authored by eminent Constitution expert Subhash C Kashyap.

Stressing the need to bring more accountability in the judiciary, the minister said time has come to bring changes in the mechanism of appointment of judges.

Pointing to a growing tendency, on the part of "certain constitutional functionaries", to step into the sphere set out for others, he warned, this would upset the "rhythm of the Constitution, which maintains a fine separation of powers".

MP and former CJI Ranganath Misra said the present system of appointment of judges by a collegium of judges had created division among them - those inside and outside the collegium.

What was intended was appointment by the collegium in due consultation with the President, he said adding the constitutional authority has, however, been reduced to a rubber stamp.

Speaking at the function, former Attorney General of India K Prasaran said, judiciary had not derived its powers from God, but from the Constitution and stressed the need to maintain the separation of powers.

PTI