Judge Loya case: Opposition parties escalate CJI impeachment matter; meet VP Naidu

Opposition leaders met at Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad’s chamber located inside the parliament; where a discussion took place on apex court order, which declined petition seeking CBI and SIT probe in Judge Loya’s ‘mysterious’ death case.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra. Photo: PTI (File)

New Delhi: A day after Supreme Court declined all petitions seeking independent probe in Special judge HC Loya’s death case; The procedure seeking CJI Deepak Misra's impeachment is being catalyzed, as Congress along with 6 other parties on Friday reached Vice President Venkaiah Naidu. The MPs went with a letter carrying signatures from over 70 members of parliament over the same. Congress has so far been able to attain support from SP, BSP, CPI, CPI(M) and NCP. After meeting with VP, Congress leaders cited reasons why they moved the impeachment motion and expressing their helplessness for doing so. Addressing a press conference after moving the impeachment motion, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “71 MPs had signed the impeachment motion (against CJI) but as sven have retired the number is now 64. We have more than the minimum requirement needed to entertain the motion and we are sure that the Honourable Chairman will take action.” Casting aspersions on the appointment of Dipak Misra, party leader Kapil Sibal said, “We wish this day had never come in the fabric of our constitutional framework. Since the day he (Dipak Misra) was appointed as CJI there have been questions raised in the manner in which he has dealt with certain cases.”

LIVE: "We have moved a motion for impeachment of Chief Justice of India" says @INCIndia MP #GhulamNabiAzadhttps://t.co/JQJlKZeiOk pic.twitter.com/kZdKcYTyI2

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) April 20, 2018

"Have submitted a letter with signatures of 71 MPs to RS Chairman" says #GhulamNabiAzadhttps://t.co/JQJlKZeiOk pic.twitter.com/28FBWhhMiG

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) April 20, 2018

LIVE: "Nothing changed even after 4 judges held press conference" says @KapilSibal https://t.co/JQJlKZeiOk pic.twitter.com/gRydgJSKRj

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) April 20, 2018

When the judges of the Supreme Court themselves believe that the Judiciary's independence is at threat, alluding to the functioning of the office of the CJI, should the nation stand still and do nothing?: Kapil Sibal, Congress on Impeachment Motion against CJI pic.twitter.com/FynsgVlHrk

— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2018

The blame-game has escalated between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Opposition over Judge Loya's death. On one hand, opposition has called a meeting to discuss further action; BJP says ‘Congress stands exposed’. Opposition leaders met at Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad’s chamber located inside the parliament; where a discussion  took place on apex court order, which declined petition seeking CBI and SIT probe in Judge Loya’s ‘mysterious’ death case.

Opposition leaders led by Ghulam Nabi Azad reach Venkaiah Naidu's residence for a meeting over impeachment motion against CJI Dipak Mishra. Leaders from 7 opposition parties have signed the impeachment notice. #Delhi pic.twitter.com/yBHqtIj7Wg

— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2018

The opposition extended a proposal amid various parties for impeachment of Chief Justice with mutual consent. Where on one hand, NCP and Congress have agreed on extending proposal for CJI’s removal, some parties have backed off from signing the proposal over the same. This comes months after four senior most Supreme Court Judges, justices J. Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B. Lokur and Kurian Joseph came out in front of media and raised questions on CJI Dipak Misra’s functioning. After this, Congress began its preparation for impeachment and later took it back because of lack of support. The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected the claim of activist- lawyer Prashant Bhushan that no electrocardiogram (ECG) of judge B H Loya was conducted at Nagpur's Dande hospital, where he was initially taken for treatment after he complained of chest pain. The apex court said that the mention of an ECG in the progress notes of the doctor at Meditrina hospital, where he was taken later, indicated that the procedure was carried out at Dande hospital. It rejected the submission of Bhushan, who sought an independent probe into the death of Loya that no ECG was done at Dande hospital where the judge was taken by four judges --Shrikant Kulkarni, S M Modak, V C Barde and Roopesh Rathi -- for medical assistance after he complained of chest pain. "The death summary specifically adverts to the fact that the patient was taken to Dande hospital earlier where an ECG was done. Dr Dande has made the same statement.