BJP MP Slams 'New System' of Impeachment Motions Against Judges

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In a stark criticism, senior BJP leader and former law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad expressed concerns over a recent trend of moving impeachment motions against judges who deliver unfavorable verdicts. This comes after 108 MPs from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) submitted an impeachment notice against Justice GR Swaminathan of the Madras high court. Prasad, an MP from Patna Sahib, raised concerns during a Lok Sabha debate on electoral reforms, warning that involving the Chief Justice of India (CJI) in the selection of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners could undermine the constitutional separation of powers. Responding to Opposition criticism of a new law removing the CJI from the selection panel, Prasad emphasized the importance of judicial independence while cautioning against the judiciary's overreach into other institutional mechanisms. 'We respect the judiciary's independence, but should we involve it in every decision-making process? This would be a breach of the separation of powers doctrine,' he said. Prasad perceived the Opposition's insistence on including the CJI as a sign of 'weakness' within the democratic system, which he believes is detrimental to the country's progress.