Attack on judiciary: BJP MP hits out at Opp over notice to remove HC judge

Justice Swaminathan’s December 1 order over the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam lamp atop a stone pillar on the Thiruparankundram hill in Madurai, a site contested by Hindu temple authorities and an adjoining dargah, has triggered a political row in Tamil Nadu and landed the ruling DMK in a legal and political tussle.

The Bangalore South MP said, “The DMK government supported by the INDI alliance and Congress is trying to weaponise impeachment as a method to silence the judiciary. This not only shows their anti-Hindu sentiments, but it also displays their contempt for Independence of the judiciary.”

As per the Judges Inquiry Act, 1968, a complaint against a judge is taken up if it is signed by at least 100 members if moved in LS and 50 members if it is initiated in RS. The Constitution does not mention “impeachment”, but it is colloquially used to refer to the proceedings under Article 124 (to remove a Supreme Court judge) and Article 218 (to remove a High Court judge).

Lashing out at Congress, he said, “During the Emergency, Congress superseded the appointment of the judges and had violated the sacrosanct principles of impartiality of judiciary.” “By moving this impeachment motion against the judge who has passed a reasonable order, this is a further attack on the independence of the judiciary. We request that the impe­achment motion be summarily dismissed and the country sho­uld take note of this anti-Hindu and anti-judiciary instance of the DMK and the Congress.”