CJI Misra Off The Hook: Congress Confirms Issue Of Impeachment "Closed Now"

Putting to rest speculations of the Indian National Congress initiating the process for impeachment of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday told the Indian Express that the "issue is closed now".

Over the past few days, reports were rife that the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Sharad Pawar had already signed the impeachment draft. Another report by The Economic Times had indicated that leaders of several opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, the NCP and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), actively discussed the matter over the past few days.

The discussions were initiated soon after the unprecedented press conference held by four sitting Judges of the Supreme Court and the uproar that followed. The four Judges – Justice J. Chelameswar, Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice M.B. Lokur and Justice Kurian Joseph- had then asserted that the administration of the Apex Court is “not in order” and that many “things less than desirable” have been happening in the last few months. It was also revealed that they had written a letter to the CJI two months ago, airing their grievances.

CJI Misra had also found himself in a soup in the medical college bribery case, which had even fuelled unprecedented drama at the Supreme Court with the Court annulling an order passed by a two-Judge Bench, after a rather forthright confrontation between the CJI and Advocate Prashant Bhushan.

However, Mr. Kharge has now confirmed that CJI Misra is off the hook. He was quoted as saying, "No, that issue is closed now. Because there is no question now. And we never initiated (it) in the Lower House. There was a talk in the Upper House, but I think that they have also not taken this issue… But as far as Lok Sabha is concerned, we never initiated anything."