Congress leader Kapil Sibal
The Congress party today alleged that Chief Justice of India violated constitutional norms while exercising his powers.
Talking to media persons, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that seven political parties have given notice for removal of Chief Justice of India under five grounds of misbehaviour.
The seven parties include the Congress, the NCP, the CPI-M, the CPI, the SP, the BSP and the AIML.
Azad also revealed that 71 MPs had signed the notice for impeachment motion. However, since seven of them have retired, the number stands at 64, he added.
Another senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said that questions are being asked about the manner in which "CJI has handled certain cases and was exercising powers".
"CJI Deepak Misra violated constitutional norms while exercising his powers," Sibal said.
Earlier in the day, opposition parties led by the Congress met Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and handed over a notice for impeachment of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.
The MPs who signed the notice belong to the Congress, the NCP, the CPI-M and CPI, the SP, the BSP and the AIML.
The leaders of these parties earlier met in Parliament and gave final shape to the notice for impeachment.
After the meeting, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad confirmed that the leaders were moving the notice for impeachment against CJI.
Among those who attended the meeting in Parliament were Congress leaders Azad, Kapil Sibal and Randeep Surjewala, besides CPI’s D Raja and NCP’s Vandana Chavan.
Sources said the Trinamool Congress and the DMK, which were initially in favour of the impeachment against the CJI, are no longer part of it.
The impeachment notice comes a day after the Supreme Court rejected a bunch of petitions seeking an independent probe into the death of Judge B H Loya, who was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case.
The SC judgement was delivered by a bench headed by the Chief Justice of India.
An impeachment motion in the Rajya Sabha has to be supported by at least 50 MPs of the Upper House, while the number of MPs supporting such a motion in the Lok Sabha is 100.
Once the notice for impeachment is submitted to the Rajya Sabha chairman, he will ascertain whether there is merit or ground for moving such a motion.
In case he finds merit, then he may form a committee to look into it, else he can reject it.
If moved, this will be the first time ever in the country’s history that an impeachment would be moved against the Chief Justice of India.
Watch Video: We have moved an impeachment motion seeking the removal of CJI Dipak Misra: Ghulam Nabi Azad
