The Bombay High Court on Thursday wondered as to how impeachment proceedings could be initiated against Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari through a public interest litigation over his statements against icons like Savitiribai Phule and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Hearing a PIL filed by Deepak Jagdev, a HC bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Abhay Ahuja sought to know as to how the court could pass an order restraining the Governor from speaking about historical figures.
The HC bench made the observations when Jagdev’s plea, seeking urgent listing for a hearing, was mentioned before them. However, the HC bench did not specify any date on which the matter would be listed.
In his PIL, the petitioner claimed that the Governor had statements about historical figure Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Constitution draftsman Dr. BR Ambedkar and social reformers Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule in a derogatory manner and that in the light of the same, impeachment proceedings ought to be initiated against Koshyari.
Jagdev said that the Governor’s statements had caused public furore in nthe state. “All of Maharashtra is burning, as political leaders and local organisations are holding protests”. In his petition filed through advocate Nitin Satpute, the petitioner said that he was aggrieved by the Governor's controversial remarks against the most loved names in Maharashtra.