Bangalore /New Delhi, July 9 (IANS):  The government is not planning to enact legislation for reservation in the higher judiciary, but would request the top judiciary to ensure "social engineering" in the appointment of judges, Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily Thursday said.

“Social engineering is not a charity. It is a right,” the law minister said, when asked about reservation for minorities and backward classes in the top judiciary.    

He was replying to queries from MPs during question hour in the Lok Sabha.    

“Reservation is available in subordinate courts. The government has not considered any reservation in the Supreme Court and high courts,” Moily said, explaining that the government would only request the top judiciary to go in for affirmative action.   

The minister also said the government would be able to arrive at a national consensus on judicial reforms in two months.   

"I assure the members that the matter has to come to a logical conclusion. We have to have a national consensus on judicial reforms and also not take much time. We will take only a couple of months and not couple of years," Moily said.   

"There is no need to confront the judiciary on this issue,” he added.    

Among other things, he was referring to the issue of judges declaring their assets like legislators, MPs and other public figures do. On earlier occasions, Moily had denied reports that the judges were reluctant to make public their assets.