Society & Culture
The Narendra Modi-led NDA comes to power in 2014 and immediately sets its sights on judicial reforms. A new NJAC act is passed in Parliament. A constitutional amendment paving the way for the Act is also passed. Troubled lawyers move the courts opposing the new laws, objecting to the role of the executive that the Act outlines. A vacation bench hears the matter in the summer of 2015. The fate of judicial independence hangs in the balance. Eminent lawyers appear on both sides arguing for and against the new appointments system. In October 2015, the court announced its verdict. Reference A list of archival resources used to research this episode can be found here. News clip of Justice Khehar- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB1WbaeGUuA Sounds of Parliamentary uproar, followed by anchor’s summing up- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcbJL1JjaK0 News clip of Ex- Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTPtkWKE6D0%20(4.07%20to%204.10) News clip of RS Prasad- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kcAxADbRkg News clip of Falil Nariman- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaBugNBMJmY SC refers plea against NJAC act to 5 judges bench- https://youtu.be/raT5idVxla0 News clip of Supreme court striking down NJAC- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd6lYHjIiG8 News clip of Arun Jaitley on NJAC judgement- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qprmv0GG8XM Anil Divan’s interview with Sansa TV- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoijW0GLWEE CJI lashes out at government for stalling appointment of HC judges- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cji-lashes-out-at-government-for-stalling-appointment-of-hc-judges/articleshow/53678287.cms Transcript: https://www.anildivanfoundation.org/episode8 Credits: Host: Raghu Karnad Guests: Abhinav Chandrachud, Anindita Pujari, Dushyant Dave, Prashant Kumar, Santosh Paul, Utkarsh Anand Research Manager: Ramya Boddupalli Legal Researcher: Vipinn Mittaal Scriptwriter: Ramya Boddupalli Script editor: Bhavya Dore Fact checker: Vipinn Mittaal Advisors: Lawrence Liang, Ranvir Singh, Shyam Divan and Vivek Divan Head of Production: Shaun Fanthome Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Production Assistant: Sakshi Nair Sound Design & Mix: Kartik Kulkarni Sound Editor & Music Supervisor: Lakshman Parsuram Graphic Designer: Sephin Alexander