HC takes up plea against impeachment

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 25

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday will hear a petition challenging the provisions of law that enable MPs to introduce motion for impeachment of High Court or Supreme Court Judge. 

The provision in the Judges Inquiry Act has been challenged on the ground that more than 200 MPs are facing criminal cases. Besides this, a substantial number of MPs are advocates and their action of moving an impeachment motion is vitiated by conflict of interest with law and justice.

The petition filed in public interest by advocate Hari Chand Arora comes at a time when the rejection of impeachment motion against Chief Justice of India Justice Dipak Misra is expected to be challenged before the Supreme Court. It was rejected on Monday by Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu.

Referring to motion of impeachment submitted recently by 64 MPs in the Rajya Sabha, the petitioner averred they constituted only 8 per cent of total 797 MPs in Parliament. 

Seeking the quashing of Section 3 of Judges Inquiry Act, Arora in the PIL has submitted that the provision enables 50 Rajya Sabha, or 100 Lok Sabha, MPs to introduce a motion for impeachment of a High Court or Supreme Court Judge.