Call ‘full court’ to discuss ‘future’ of judiciary: Justices Gogoi, Lokur write to CJI Dipak Misra

Days after Vice President Venkaiah Naidu blocked Congress-led Opposition’s move to impeach Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra, two senior judges of the Supreme Court, Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Madan Lokur have asked the CJI to call a “full court” to discuss the future of the judiciary.

The letter, written by Justices Gogoi and Lokur, both members of Supreme Court collegium, was sent to CJI Misra on Sunday. However, the CJI was yet to respond to the letter. Justice Gogoi is expected to succeed CJI Misra, who will retire in October 2018.

A full court meeting of the Supreme Court is usually called by the Chief Justice over a matter of public interest relating to the judiciary.

After sending the letter, Gogoi had also raised the demand of calling a “full court” during the traditional morning tea of Supreme Court judges.

The letter by the Gogoi and Lokur came days after two more similar letters were sent by other senior judges of the collegium, asking the CJI to protect the judiciary from "undue interference by the government."

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

On Monday, Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu rejected the impeachment motion against the CJI.

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