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