Yechury writes letter to Prez Kovind for dismissal of J&K Chief Justice

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Thursday wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind seeking the dismassal of the Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, Pankaj Mithal, for violating his oath by speaking against the Constitution of India.

Mr. Yechury in his letter said Justice Mithal, addressing the seminar organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad on December 5, had reportedly said, "Inclusion of the terms secular and socialist in the Preamble of the Constitution has narrowed India's spiritual image."

Yechury argued that such utterances by Justice Mithal has violated the oath and also compromised the constitutional office held by him.

Justice Mithal, he said, is further reported to have said that "sometimes, we bring amendments due to our adamancy".

Stating that the December 5 programme was held by an organisation affiliated to the RSS, Yechuru noted that such utterances against the country's constituion and that too from a platform which preaches a particular ideology, is an unpardonable offence.

"As the custodian of the Constitution, as the head of the State and as the appointing authority of (Justice) Mithal, I request your good self to immediately set in motion the process for his removal from office to uphold the sanctity of the Constitution and independence of judiciary," he wrote in the letter.