The Government today withdrew the Judicial Appointment Commission Bill 2013 from the Rajya Sabha. Moving the Motion, Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Bill had lapsed and the government will soon introduce a new Constitutional Amendment Bill. He said, the National Judicial Appointment Commission Bill 2014 will have greater ambit. The Motion for withdrawal was opposed by Anand Sharma of the Congress, who demanded a statement by the Chairman of the Standing Committee on the earlier Bill. However, the Treasury Benches were supported by regional parties including BSP, SP, TMC, AIADMK and the Left Front. Deputy Chairperson Prof. P.J. Kurein allowed the withdrawal of the Motion by a voice vote.