Advocate calls Justice Swaminathan impeachment 'charade', warns of judicial assault

• An impeachment motion has been moved against Madras High Court Justice G R Swaminathan by 107 INDIA bloc MPs.
• Senior Advocate M Sricharan Ranganathan, named in the allegations of favouritism, has rejected the charges as a "charade" and an "assault on judicial independence."
• 56 former judges have condemned the impeachment motion, calling it a "brazen attempt to browbeat judges" and warning against damaging judicial independence.
• The motion alleges favouritism towards Ranganathan and a "particular community," and decisions based on "political ideology," stemming partly from a temple lamp lighting order.
• Home Minister Amit Shah criticized the move, accusing the Opposition of "appeasement politics" and setting a precedent for impeaching judges over rulings.

Why It Matters: Political move to impeach a judge sparks fears for judicial independence.