Question

Supreme Court declared National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, 2014 and the Constitution (Ninety Ninth Amendment) Act, 2014 as unconstitutional and void. What was the strength of the Bench of the Supreme Court of India in this decision ?

• A. Three Judges
• B. Five Judges
• C. Seven Judges
• D. Nine Judges

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The Supreme Court of India, in a significant decision, declared the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, 2014, and the Constitution (Ninety Ninth Amendment) Act, 2014 unconstitutional and void. This landmark ruling was delivered by a Bench consisting of five judges. This decision emphasized the importance of the independence of the judiciary as envisaged in the Constitution of India.
 

Understanding the details of such cases requires familiarity with the structure of the judiciary and the composition of benches that decide significant constitutional matters. In India, constitutional benches are typically composed of odd-numbered judges. For the NJAC case, a five-judge bench was constituted, aligning with the standard practice for cases involving constitutional amendments and significant legal principles.
 

The verdict, thus, was rendered by a bench strength of Five Judges, marking a pivotal moment in Indian constitutional law by reinforcing the doctrine of separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary from executive interference.