The main Opposition party Congress seems to be divided on the matter of initiating a motion to remove Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra from office.
While many leaders are in support of the proposal, which may be introduced in the Parliament by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), former law ministers of Congress have opposed such move.
Former Law Ministers Point Out Lack of Evidence
Veerapa Moily, former law minister in the UPA government, has stated that the issue of removing the CJI is not a political issue and any such motion must be supported by concrete evidence.
According to a news report, Moily said that unless there are “proper grounds” and “evidence is available”, it is not “proper to go for impeachment of the CJI” as it will not “serve the purpose.”
Ashwini Kumar also expressed a similar opinion stating that questions that were raised by the four judges of the apex court in the historic press conference do not merit for such motion.
He further noted that such a move will pit the executive against the judiciary.
Kumar pointed out that given the circumstances, the current case was not suitable for the “extreme remedy of impeachment” which he said can be resorted to only when “facts constituting moral turpitude are established beyond doubt.”
Executive Intervention Needed
CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechuri had earlier stated that the party was conferring with other parties on the need for such a move.
He said that as the judiciary crisis was not yet resolved there was a “need to intervene” adding that the party was discussing with others “on the possibility of an impeachment motion against CJI in Budget session.”
