Yechury says party is in discussion with other Opposition parties on the possibility of moving it in the budget session

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said here on Tuesday that the party was trying to build a consensus on moving an impeachment motion against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra in the budget session of Parliament.

“Looks like the crisis is not resolved yet, so we need to intervene and it’s time to play the role of the legislature. We are discussing with Opposition parties the possibility of an impeachment motion against the CJI in the budget session,” Mr. Yechury said.

On January 12, four senior-most Supreme Court judges held a press conference raising questions on “selective” allocation of cases to certain Benches. Though, the judges did not spell it out clearly, inferences have been drawn that Supreme Court judges allegedly “close” to the ruling dispensation have been allotted critical cases.

Sources say Mr. Yechury has reached out to the Congress and the NCP for now and will speak to others soon. The Congress, however, remains mum on the issue.

‘Preliminary stage’

“The talks are at a preliminary stage; we were expecting that the judiciary will be able to sort out the issue within themselves. However, that has not happened. So we need to explore what role we can play,” Tariq Anwar, NCP MP, told The Hindu. On the question whether the Opposition will have enough numbers to get the motion through, he said the discussions had not reached that stage.

By the rules, signatures of 50 MPs are required to move a motion of impeachment. “Such a motion can’t be moved unless the Congress with its 57 members is too on board. Moreover, the CJI is retiring in October. It is a messy process and there is only a bleak chance that we will be successful,” a Trinamool Congress leader said. The party has refused to divulge its position.

Floor strategy

“It is too early to comment on the issue. Only when the Opposition sits together for a floor strategy meeting ahead of the budget session and discusses it, can we say anything. We would not want the Opposition to appear fractured on the issue,” a senior Congress leader said.

The CPI(M) has seven members in the Rajya Sabha and nine in the Lok Sabha. The budget session begins on January 29, and the Union Budget will be presented on February 1.