SC Seeks AG’s Advice on Media Gag in Reporting Impeachment Motion

Justice AK Sikri reportedly said it was “unfortunate” that there were discussions in public on impeachment of judges

As Congress-led Opposition on Friday, 20 April, moved an impeachment motion against the Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, the Supreme Court sought Attorney General (AG) KK Venugopal’s advice on restraining the media from publishing such “scandalous” stories against the judiciary.

"We are all very disturbed about it," a bench comprising Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan said after the counsel appearing for a petitioner raised the issue of politicians making public statements on impeachment of judges. However, he reportedly added that the apex court will not pass orders without hearing what the AG had to say.

The Opposition’s meeting called by senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad comes days after the party had said that the option of moving an impeachment motion against the CJI was still open.

Opposition parties including the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Communist Party of India, and the Nationalist Congress Party reportedly attended the meeting.

Azad, along with other Opposition leaders will meet with Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, at 12 pm on Friday.

Over 60 MPs belonging to seven political parties have signed the notice for impeachment proceedings against CJI, reported PTI, quoting sources.

Congress leaders had earlier remarked that the issues raised by four senior-most Supreme Court judges have not been addressed yet by the CJI.

During the Budget Session that concluded earlier this month, the Congress had initiated a move collecting more than 50 signatures of Rajya Sabha members in a bid to table the motion, but there were reservations from parties like the Trinamool Congress.

The Congress kept the move on hold, saying it wanted to get as much support as possible from other parties. CJI Misra is scheduled to retire in October 2018.

(With inputs from PTI, IANS, and Hindustan Times)

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