CJI impeachment motion: Supreme Court refuses to pass gag order against media
The bench, however, said it was disturbed by the Opposition politicians making statements against the judiciary.
The Supreme Court on Friday declined to pass a gag order against the media on Opposition parties’ impeachment process against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra in Parliament, Live Law reported. “It is unfortunate. We are disturbed by what is happening,” the court said about politicians making statements against the judiciary.
During the proceedings, a bench headed by judge AK Sikri sought Attorney General KK Venugopal’s assistance on a plea seeking a restraining order against the media in the impeachment proceedings.
Advocate Meenakshi Arora told the Supreme Court that there is a Constitutional provision to prohibit the media from reporting on impeachment, as it could hinder the judge from discharging his judicial function. However, the court then refused to pass the restraining order.
Meanwhile, Opposition leaders led by Congress MP Ghulam Nabi Azad reached Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu’s residence in New Delhi on Friday. Leaders from seven Opposition parties signed the impeachment notice, reports said. The Opposition has been considering impeachment proceedings against Misra after four senior Supreme Court judges, at a press conference on January 11, raised questions about the way he allocates cases.
Sr Adv Meenakshi Arora argued law commission of India has already said in a report and also there is constitutional provision restraining media from writing on impeachment as it will affect the judge to discharge his judicial function @LiveLawIndia
— Prabhati N. Mishra (@Prabhati_Mishra) April 20, 2018
It is unfortunate.We are all disturbed that what is happening,Justice Sikri observed referring to the statements of politicians against members of judiciary and declined to pass the restraint order against media @LiveLawIndia
— Prabhati N. Mishra (@Prabhati_Mishra) April 20, 2018