SC disturbed at MPs raising CJI impeachment issue in public
Pursuit of Peace, a Maharashtra society, filed the PIL, arguing that publishing of such matters would interfere with the working of the judge and scandalise the judiciary.
The petitioner has said the cause of action arose in the matter when a draft motion for removal of the CJI was released to the press on March 27.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday expressed its anguish over the overtly political debate raging in the media about a purported move towards the impeachment the Chief Justice.
“It is very unfortunate. We are disturbed,” a bench comprising Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan said, while seeking the attorney general’s assistance in dealing with a PIL demanding a gag on lawmakers from talking to the media about such issues till finding of guilt was rendered against the judge.
Pursuit of Peace, a Maharashtra society, filed the PIL, arguing that publishing of such matters would interfere with the working of the judge and scandalise the judiciary.
Arguing for the NGO, senior advocate Meenakshi Arora said the 185th Law Commission had recorded that there was a need to keep the process confidential till the charges were proved against the judge in question by a peer group.
In 1991, SC had ruled that Parliament cannot debate the impeachment motion till a report of guilty was rendered by a committee of judges which examines the charges against a fellow judge for removal from the post.
