New Delhi, April 25: A group of lawyers on Wednesday started a signature campaign outside Bombay High Court in support of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra. Capping two weeks of indecision on their part, opposition parties including the Congress and six other opposition parties on Friday moved a notice for the impeachment of CJI, accusing him of five counts of "misbehaviour" and "misusing" authority. Reports inform that the charges against the CJI included taking a bribe, illegally acquiring land and 'choosing to send sensitive matters to particular benches by misusing his authority '.

The opposition parties met Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and handed over a notice for the impeachment of the CJI with signatures of MPs of the Upper House. 71 members of the Rajya Sabha across seven opposition parties had delivered a motion of impeachment against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra to Vice President and Upper House chairman Venkaiah Naidu.

Congress leader Kapil Sibal alleged that Misra had violated constitutional norms while exercising his powers. A statement by the Indian National Congress stated that the Chief Justice had failed to assert the independence of the judiciary in the face of interference by the executive. The MPs who signed the notice belong to the Congress, NCP, CPI-M and CPI, SP, BSP and the Muslim League.

Reports inform that the move came after Opposition leaders met in Parliament and gave final shape to the notice of impeachment. It must be noted that to move an impeachment motion against the CJI, signatures of 100 MPs are needed in Lok Sabha and in Rajya Sabha, signatures of 50 members are required. The motion can be introduced by in either of the House.

Earlier this week, Venkaiah Naidu had rejected the 'impeachment motion' against the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra citing 'no proof of misconduct' by him as alleged by the opposition parties. Naidu held extensive consultations with top legal and constitutional experts, including former chief justices and judges, before taking the decision, sources said. The rejection of the notice came a day after he held the consultations to determine the maintainability of the motion.

Impeachment proceedings against judges made progress in Parliament for the first time in 1993 when Supreme Court judge V Ramaswami faced charges of corruption following the report of an inquiry commission. Sibal, who is at the forefront and spearheading the campaign to impeach the present CJI, however, had put up a spirited defence in favour of Ramaswami in the Lok Sabha.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 25, 2018 02:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).