Hardik Patel (Source: PTI) Hardik Patel (Source: PTI)

As many as 58 members of the Upper House on Friday petitioned Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Mohammad Hamid Ansari to initiate impeachment proceedings against Justice J B Pardiwala of the Gujarat High Court for his “unconstitutional” remarks against reservations in a case pertaining to Patidar leader Hardik Patel.

“It is under consideration,” sources in Ansari’s office said, confirming the petition’s receipt.

The signatories to the petition include Anand Sharma, Digvijaya Singh, Ambika Soni (Congress), Sharad Yadav (JD-U), D Raja (CPI), K N Balagopal (CPI-M), Satish Misra and Narendra Kumar Kashyap (BSP), Tiruchi Siva (DMK), D P Tripathi (NCP) and Ramdas Athawale (RPI).

“It is distressing that Justice J B Pardiwala should be unaware of the constitutional provision with respect to the policy for SCs and STs,” the petition said.

The MPs pointed out that Justice Pardiwala had observed that two things have “destroyed this country or rather, (have) not allowed this country to progress in the right direction…(i) reservation and (ii) corruption”. He also said, “when our Constitution was framed, it was understood that the reservations would remain for a period of ten years, but unfortunately, it has continued even after 65 years of independence”.

The MPs said that the 10-year limit was prescribed for reservations in the legislatures, and not in areas of education and employment. They appended a copy of the resolution passed unanimously by many MPs and MLAs belonging to SCs, STs and OBC categories, at Ahmadabad on December12, seeking impeachment of the judge.

📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App.