SC rejects Centre's plea for NJAC's hearing

 In a major embarassment to the NDA government, the Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the Centre's plea for referring the constitutional validity issue to a 11-judge bench.

A five-judge bench took a mid-way 37 minute break and returned to announce that it would not refer NJAC matter to 11-judge bench as was vehemently argued by attorney general Mukul Rohatgi and all BJP ruled states.

The five jdge bench of justices JS Khehar, J Chelameswar, Madan B Lokur, Kurian Joseph and Adarsh Goel gave three more days to Centre and petitioners challenging NJAC validity to conclude arguments.

The SC also extended the term of all additional judges in high courts whose two year tenure was expiring during the pendency of petitions against NJAC, the new system which erased the 22-year-old collegium system for appointment of judges to SC and HC.

The SC said it will complete hearing and decide whether the matter requires recerence and also decide if needed the validity of NJAC.