New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday did not hear a batch of petitions challenging the National Judicial Appointment Commission replacing the collegium system for appointing judges as it will first decide whether Justice J.S. Khehar, who is presiding over a five-judge constitution bench, can hear the challenge.

The apex court bench of Justice J.S. Khehar, Justice J. Chelameswar, Justice Madan B. Lokur, Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice A.K. Goel decided to hear the plea about the judges eligible to hear the petitions challenging to NJAC Act and the constitutional amendment backing it.

At the outset of the hearing, advocate Mathew J. Nedumparaa told the bench that Justice Khehar, being a part of the Supreme Court collegium, was not suited to hear the challenge to NJAC Act and the constitutional amendment backing it.

SC to decide on eligibility of judges to hear challenge to NJAC