Kolkata: Aam Adami Party (AAP) Member Parliament from Fatehgarh Sahib Harinder Singh Khalsa has reportedly said that he will legally challenge the appointment of Indian Supreme Court judge Dipak Kumar Misra as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI).
“I am going to file a writ petition in the Delhi high court challenging the appointment of the next CJI,” Harinder Singh Khalsa was quoted saying by Hindustan Times (HT) here on Tuesday.
It is believed by the parliamentarian that Justice Deepak Kumar Mishra’s elevation will harm India’s judiciary since he has been accused of corruption. CJI JS Khehar retires on August 27.
“The petition in the Delhi HC will seek a declaration that honourable justice Dipak Misra is disqualified to be appointed as next CJI in view of the allegations of corruption,” reads the statement of Harinder Singh Khalsa published in an English vernacular. “The CJI is not just any other judge. He is the face of India’s judiciary,” he adds.
The petition is being filed by advocates Mathew J Nedumpara and AC Phillip, who are part of a legal activism group, National Lawyers’ Campaign for Judicial Reforms and Transparency.
“The petition says that justice Dipak Misra is under a cloud and hence the government shall not appoint him as the next CJI merely (by) acting upon the recommendation of the outgoing CJI, that too without any inquiry,” reads the statement of Mathew J Nedumpara.
As stated by Harinder Singh Khalsa the allegations against justice Misra are in public domain. “Both justice Khehar and justice Misra were named by former Arunachal Pradesh CM Kalikho Pul in his suicide note for corrupt practices. It will be a black spot for judiciary if Misra becomes the CJI due to Khehar’s recommendation,” said the MP while talking to HT.