Issues that ought to figure in manifestos
Political parties have a history of promising a slew of benefits to voters during elections and then forgetting about them afterwards.
The Supreme Court on Friday termed debates and public statement made by lawmakers in connection with impeachment of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra as “unfortunate”.
“We are all very disturbed about it,” a bench comprising Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan said after the counsel appearing for the petitioner raised the issue of politicians making public statements on impeachment of judges.
The bench was hearing a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) seeking to restrain the media from reporting on the issue of impeachment motion against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.
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As per News 12 reports, the PIL, filed by NGO In Pursuit of Justice, has sought a restraint against the legislators as well as media to discuss a proposed removal motion.
Senior advocate Meenakshi Arora, appearing for the NGO, submitted that a judge cannot act fearlessly if such discourse takes place while he is in office and the removal motion has not even been brought.
The apex court asked Attorney General K K Venugopal to assist it to deal with the plea. The SC, while asking the top law officer of the country to assist it in the matter, posted the case for hearing on 7 May. It, however, refused to pass any order gagging the media, saying it would not do this without hearing the Attorney General.
The development assumes significance as it comes on a day when the Congress and other opposition parties have decided to launch fresh move by submitting a notice to initiate impeachment proceedings against CJI Dipak Misra.
The move comes a day after the SC ruling in the CBI Judge B H Loya case.
According to PTI, over 60 MPs belonging to seven political parties have signed the notice for impeachment proceedings against CJI and handed over the notice of impeachment to Vice President Venkaiah Naidu.
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