Seeking the impeachment of Madras High Court Justice G.R. Swaminathan, DMK MPs and parliamentarians of other political parties moved a motion before the Lok Sabha Speaker on December 9.
107 signatories want Judge's removal
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Under Article 217 read with Article 124 of the Constitution, the motion was moved to remove Justice Swaminathan, with signatures of 107 Members of Parliament. Among the signatories were DMK MPs T.R. Baalu, A. Raja, Kanimozhi, Dayanidhi Maran; Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Gaurav Gogoi and Manickam Tagore; Samajwadi Party MPs Akhilesh Yadav and Dimple Yadav; NCP-SP’s Supriya Sule; Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Arvind Sawant; IUML’s E.T. Muhammed Basheer; AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi; VCK’s Thol. Thirumavalavan; and other members who signed the motion.
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'Miscounduct' is the basis of impeachment
The basis of the impeachment against Justice Swaminathan is “misconduct.” In the motion, it was stated that the Justice’s conduct is questionable with respect to transparency, impartiality, and secular functioning. It has also been alleged that the judge favours senior advocates from a certain community.
Verdicts based on 'certain political ideology'
The lawmakers also seek the judge's removal for delivering decisions based on “certain political ideology” and for acting against the secular principles of the Constitution.
The move for impeachment comes after Justice Swaminathan delivered a verdict allowing devotees to light a lamp at a stone pillar atop a hill where a dargah is also situated.