Sitting Supreme Court judge, Justice J Chelameswar said yesterday that impeachment cannot be an answer to every question or problem and there is a need to correct the system.
Justice Chelameswar’s response comes at a time when some opposition parties have sought to initiate impeachment proceedings against the Chief Justice of India (CJI), Dipak Misra.
In a programme organised by the Harvard Club of India here, Justice Chelameswar said: “I don’t know why this nation is worried about impeachment. Impeachment is not the answer. The system must be fixed. Impeachment looks like the word which is the flavor of the season.”
Justice Chelameswar also ruled out seeking government employment after he retires in June 22.
“I am saying it on record that after my retirement, I will not seek any appointment from the government,” he said.
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Further answering questions on the order of priority of the CJI in constituting benches and allocating cases to different judges as the ‘master of roster’, the Justice said the CJI is the ‘Master of Roster’.
“The CJI is the ‘Master of Roster’. Undoubtedly, the CJI has this power. He has the authority to constitute the Benches but under constitutional system every power is coupled with certain responsibilities,” he noted.
“The power is required to be exercised not because it exists but for the purpose of achieving public good. You don’t exercise the power merely because you have it,” he said.