Supreme Court Crisis: Congress Inclined to be Part of Opposition’s Motion to Remove CJI Dipak Misra

Sources said that the party has been seriously viewing the issues raised by the four senior Supreme Court judges with regard to the way in which cases are being allocated in the apex court.

New Delhi, Jan 25: The Congress party is likely to join the opposition’s movement to remove Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra. Sources said that the party has been seriously viewing the issues raised by the four senior Supreme Court judges with regard to the way in which cases are being allocated by Justice Dipak Misra in the apex court.

The Congress party said that although no decision has been taken on the proposal made by CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury and NCP’s Tariq Anwar, the issues raised by the judges cannot be overlooked. A formal decision, according to the reports, will be taken at a party meeting scheduled ahead of the Budget session on January 29.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) Sitaram Yechury on January 23 mentioned that his party is thinking over bringing a motion to remove CJI Dipak Misra in Budget Session of Parliament, along with the opposition parties. (Also Read: Considering Impeachment Motion Against CJI Dipak Misra in Budget Session, Says CPM’s Sitaram Yechuri)

“…looks like the crisis is not resolved yet so need to intervene and its time to play the role of the executive. We are discussing with opposition parties on the possibility of an impeachment motion against CJI in Budget session,” Sitaram Yechury told news agency ANI.

On January 12, four senior judges of the Supreme Court – Judges Ranjan Gogoi, Kurian Joseph, Madan B. Lokur and Justice Chelameswar – held an unprecedented press conference against the Chief Justice and the functioning of the apex court alleging irregularities in allocation of the cases. They also alleged that alleged that the Supreme Court administration was “not in order”.

Hours after the four senior judges’ took on the Chief Justice of India (CJI) for being unresponsive to their requests, Congress President Rahul Gandhi said that there should be a probe into the mysterious death of Justice Loya. Loya was hearing the Sohrabuddin “fake encounter” case. (Also Read: ‘Chief Justice First Among Equals’: Top Quotes From Supreme Court Judges’ Letter to CJI)

“They have also made a point about judge Loya’s case. I think that is also something that needs to be investigated properly. It needs to be looked at from the highest levels of the Supreme Court,” he said, adding, “Points raised by the honourable judges need to be looked into carefully.”

At the same press conference, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala observed that the issues raised by the judges are “extremely disturbing and have far-reaching consequences for the values that we hold sacred”.

“Specifically the Honorable Judges have highlighted issued two issues, One, the long silence of the government of India of the Memorandum of Procedures finalised by the Supreme Court. Second, Assignment of cases selectively to the benches of their preference without any rational basis,” Surjewala said.