High Court judge faces wrath of parliamentarians

GANDHINAGAR: While on one hand 58 members of the Rajya Sabha signed a notice seeking impeachment of Justice JB Pardiwala of Gujarat High Court for his comment on reservation, the judge removed his ‘controversial’ comments from the order following a plea from the state government to modify the same.

The controversy had erupted after Justice JB Pardiwala in his order pertaining to sedition case of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PASS) convener Hardik Patel on Friday had observed “If I am asked by anyone to name two things, which has destroyed this country or rather, has not allowed the country, to progress in the right direction, then the same is – Reservation and Corruption.”

“It is very shameful for any citizen of this country to ask for reservation after 65 years of independence. When our Constitution was framed, it was understood that the reservation would remain for a period of 10 years, but unfortunately, it has continued even after 65 years of independence. The biggest threats, today, for the country is corruption”, he had added.

“The countrymen should rise and fight against corruption at all levels, rather than shedding blood and indulging in violence for the reservation”, he had said adding that the “reservation has only played the role of an amoeboid monster sowing seeds of discord amongst the people.”

“The importance of merit, in any society, cannot be understated. The merit stands for a positive goal and when looked at instrumentally, stands for “rewarding those actions that are considered good”. Then, this instrumental nature of merit that should be given importance – emphasizing on and rewarding merit is a means towards achieving what is regarded as good in the society. The parody of the situation is that India must be the only country wherein some of the citizens crave to be called backward.’” He had added further.

While this part now has been removed from the order, the situation may still create a constitutional imbroglio as a notice for his impeachment has already been served to the chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Speaking to ET the Member of Parliament ( Lok Sabha) from Ahmedabad West Kirit Solanki, who had also voiced his disagreement over the observation said that with the controversial part deleted, now the ball will lie in the court of the Chairman of Rajya Sabha to take a final call on the issue.