CJI Dipak Misra impeachment: BJP says Cong committed 'blasphemy'; 10 points
CJI Dipak Misra impeachment rejected: BJP says Cong committed 'blasphemy'; 10 points on Business Standard. Unprecedented notice given by 7 Opposition parties, led by Congress, to impeach CJI Dipak Misra, was rejected by Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu. Find latest updates on CJI Dipak Misra impeachment.
Latest News Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra impeachment motion being rejected by Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President of India M Venkaiah Naidu set off another political storm, with the Congress, which spearheaded the impeachment notice, saying it would challenge the "illegal" order in the Supreme Court. Former Law Minister and Congress leader Kapil Sibal termed Naidu's rejection of the impeachment notice as illegal and unconstitutional, adding that it was done in a "tearing hurry". The BJP, for its part, thanked Naidu for warding off an "act of blasphemy" towards the Constitution. Dealing a blow to the Opposition, Naidu on Monday rejected the impeachment motion against CJI Dipak Misra, saying there was a lack of "credible and verifiable" information on the charges of "misbehaviour" against the CJI. While the BJP had a reason to cheer, as the Congress-led impeachment notice appeared to sink, top sources in the government said that Rajya Sabha Chairman Naidu had the "statutory right" to reject a notice for impeaching a judge. "The chairman has the statutory right to reject the motion and statutory obligation to consult before arriving at a decision," a top government functionary said, adding, "sufficient grounds have to be proved to trigger an inquiry (by a three-member panel headed by a Supreme Court
judge)... the evidence has to be contemporaneous". According to reports, Naidu's rejection of the impeachment motion came after extensive consultations with legal and constitutional experts. After Naidu's rejection, BJP President Amit Shah lashed out at the Congress, saying the Opposition's move was part of a larger trend to demonise and weaken every institution that seeks to maintain its individual identity and not kowtow to the 'dynasty', in a reference to the Gandhi-Nehru family at the helm of the Congress. Apart from the Congress, the Left also criticised Naidu. CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said Naidu had not followed the laid-down rules in rejecting the CJI impeachment motion against CJI Misra. It wasn't just the BJP and certain government functionaries. A former Supreme Court judge and a retired high court judge also found merit in Naidu's order rejecting the impeachment notice against CJI Misra, saying the move was politically motivated and that the charges levelled against the CJI were not backed by proof. Seven Opposition parties, led by the Congress, had last week moved the notice before Naidu to impeach the Chief Justice of India on five grounds of "misbehaviour". This was the first time that such a notice had been filed against a sitting CJI.
Here are the top 10 developments around the motion for Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra's impeachment being rejected by Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President of India M Venkaiah Naidu:
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