Opposition parties, led by the Congress, will take a final call on Friday on the proposal to move an impeachment motion in Parliament against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, The Indian Express reported. The Opposition has been considering impeachment proceedings against Misra after four senior Supreme Court judges, at a press conference on January 11, raised questions about the way he allocates cases.
Opposition leaders will meet at 11 am in Ghulam Nabi Azad’s chamber inside Parliament, ANI reported. The meeting comes a day after the Supreme Court dismissed a batch of petitions that sought an independent inquiry into the death of Special Central Bureau of Investigation judge Brijgopal Harkishan Loya.
“The meeting could discuss afresh the impeachment issue after evaluating developments since adjournment of Parliament session,” an unidentified leader told The Economic Times.
The leaders are also expected to meet Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu on Friday afternoon, The Indian Express reported.
In March, reports said the Congress was leading efforts to collect the signatures of Opposition leaders in the Rajya Sabha to support the impeachment proceedings against Misra. An impeachment motion in the Upper House needs the signatures of at least 50 members, and the Congress reportedly collected 60.
On April 6, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said the party would not move the impeachment motion in Parliament and that the matter was now closed. However, on April 12, former Law Minister Kapil Sibal said that the Congress was still considering the option. “We are very, very concerned about what is happening in court and we believe that the option that is available to us is still open,” Sibal had said.
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