New Delhi: Seventy six Rajya Sabha members met Vice President Hamid Ansari on Monday and handed over the impeachment document against Karnataka High Court Chief Justice P D Dinakaran, whose elevation as a judge to the Supreme Court has been delayed due to charges of land grabbing.
Cutting across party lines, Rajya Sabha members belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Left parties and Samajwadi Party had signed a letter to initiate the process of impeachment against him last week.
"I have signed it, many others also have. We feel institutional integrity of judiciary is very important. Independent judiciary is part of the independent structure. How can we not be bothered about corruption?" said BJP leader, Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Samajwadi leader Amar Singh said, "He does not even deserve to be a Supreme Court judge."
As per the rules of the Rajya Sabha, if 50 members sign on a demand for a motion, it becomes the property of the House and immediate action has to be taken.
Justice Dinakaran was to be elevated to the Supreme Court by the Chief Justice of India, but his name was withheld on the alleged charges of corruption and land encroachment.
The apex court has decided to consider the appointment only after Justice Dinakaran is cleared of the said charges. (ANI)
