Judge Loya case: Opposition leaders hand over CJI's impeachment notice to Venkaiah Naidu

Opposition leaders on Friday met Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu at his residence and handed over a notice for the impeachment of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.

Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad met leaders of the Opposition parties to discuss the matter, sources said.

Azad had played a pivotal role in collecting signatures of MPs from several parties, including the Congress, CPM, CPI, NCP, SP and the BSP.

Seventy-one MPs had signed the impeachment motion (against CJI) but as seven have retired, the number is now 64.

"We have more than the minimum requirement needed to entertain the motion and we are sure that the Hon Chairman will take action," Azad said after meeting the vice-president.

As per the Judges Inquiry Act, 1968, a complaint against a judge has to be made through a resolution either by 100 members of the Lok Sabha or 50 Rajya Sabha members.

Congress leaders had said that the issues raised by four Supreme Court judges have not been addressed yet by the CJI. They said the party was concerned about the independence of judiciary and people must protect the institution from "gross interferences by the government."

During the Budget Session that concluded earlier in April, the Congress had initiated a move collecting over 50 signatures of the Rajya Sabha members in a bid to table the motion, but there were reservations from parties like the Trinamool Congress.