Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Tuesday said the implementation of a uniform civil code was part of the government’s agenda.
He also said a solution will be found on the issue of memorandum of procedure — a set of documents on the appointment, elevation and transfer of high court and Supreme Court judges — pending finalisation.
He also rejected suggestions that there was a conflict between the executive and the judiciary.
Meghwal on Tuesday assumed charge as the minister of state (independent charge) for the ministry of law and justice. He held the same portfolio in the previous Modi government too.
Responding to a question on key vacancies in his ministry, he said wherever there are vacancies, be it the Supreme Court, high court or our ministry or the subordinate courts, we will try to fill them at the earliest.
On the issue of simultaneous polls, he said the committee under former president Ram Nath Kovind has submitted its report and we will inform about it later.
He noted the law commission is also working on the subject. Before the law panel could submit its report, its chairperson Justice (Retd.) Ritu Raj Awasthi moved to Lokpal as a member.
Responding to a question on the uniform civil code, he said that it was part of the government’s agenda. The uniform civil code has remained a part of the ruling BJP’s successive manifestos.
Responding to a query on memorandum of procedure, Meghwal said it is pending and the government has written to the SC collegium on it. “I believe that we will certainly find a solution to it,” he said.
Addressing the issues of vacancies in the higher judiciary and pending cases, and finalising the Memorandum of Procedure are the key challenges before Meghwal.
According to data shared by the government with Parliament, over five crore cases are pending across courts — the lower courts, the 25 high courts and the Supreme Court.
With inputs from News18