Claiming that the crisis in the Supreme Court is far from over, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) today said it is in talks with opposition parties to bring an impeachment motion against Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra.
"Looks like the crisis is not resolved yet, so need to intervene and it is time to play role of the executive. We are discussing with opposition parties on the possibility of an impeachment motion against CJI in Budget session," CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said.
Earlier, reports had said that the Congress was also considering the option of moving impeachment proceedings against justice Misra after four senior judges of the top court openly questioned the CJI's style of functioning.
On January 12, the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court - justices Jasti Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph - had in an unprecedented press conference mounted a virtual revolt against CJI Misra. They had raised various issues, including the allocation of important and sensitive PILs, and questioned the manner in which the CJI was allocating them to a particular bench.
Unless this institution is preserved, "democracy will not survive" in this country, Justice Chelameswar had said.
He had said all the four judges "failed to persuade CJI that certain things are not in order and therefore you should take remedial measures."
"Unfortunately our efforts failed. And all four of us are convinced that democracy is at stake and many things have happened in recent past," he had said.
Despite various rounds of talks, there has been little progress in finding a solution to the unprecedented crisis.
The CJI has taken suggestions from stakeholders to bring transparency in allocation of sensitive PILs to judges. A close to him said on Sunday that a transparent system to allocate is likely to be made public soon.
The government has refused to directly interfere in the matter saying the top judges of the country have to resolve the matter by themselves.
