Venkaiah Naidu rejects impeachment notice against Chief Justice Dipak Misra

In a major setback to the Opposition Congress, Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu on Monday rejected the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Dipak Misra.

"I have applied my mind to all 5 charges made out in Impeachment Motion&examined all annexed documents. All facts as stated in motion don't make out a case which can lead any reasonable mind to conclude that CJI on these facts can be ever held guilty of misbehaviour," the Rajya Sabha Chairman said while rejecting the notice.

"After having perused annexures to the Motion & having detailed consultations & having studied opinions of constitutional experts I am satisfied that admission of this notice of #ImpeachmentMotion is neither desirable nor proper," he added. 

On Sunday, Naidu cut short his Hyderabad visit and started consultations on the impeachment notice against the CJI. Naidu held deliberations with several constitutional and legal experts, including Attorney General KK Venugopal.

Delhi: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu signing the papers of rejection of #ImpeachmentMotion against CJI Dipak Misra. pic.twitter.com/Ptj4AeiaUn

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2018

Earlier, Opposition parties, led by the Congress had sought the removal of Dipak Misra and given notice of impeachment against him. The notice given to Naidu was bearing signatures of 64 MPs and seven former members, who recently retired.

Reacting to the development, the Congress said that it was not a setback for the party and it will move to the Supreme Court against the rejection of the impeachment notice.

"This is a really important matter. We don't know what was the reason for the rejection. Congress & other opposition parties will talk to some legal experts & take the next step," said Congress leader PL Punia.