For the first time, RS to seek impeachment of judge

Rajya Sabha will make history this week when it will seek to impeach Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta High Court, who has been held guilty on corruption charges by a specially constituted committee.

He will be the second judge in the country's history against whom impeachment proceedings will be initiated when Rajya Sabha takes up a motion on August 17.

The Upper House will be converted into a court for its first impeachment proceedings against a judge.

The controversial judge of the Calcutta High Court or his representative will appear before the bar that will be raised at the entrance of the House facing the Chair.

53-year-old Justice Sen, who has been held guilty on corruption charges by a panel appointed by Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari, will be given 90 minutes to present his case.

Under the constitution, a judge of a high court or the Supreme Court can be removed by the President by a motion adopted in both the Houses of Parliament by two-thirds majority in the same session on "proved misconduct and incapacity".

The first such case involved impeachment of Justice V Ramaswami of the Supreme Court in May 1993 which fell in Lok Sabha for lack of numbers.

Union Minister Kapil Sibal, who at that time was a senior advocate, had appeared for Justice Ramaswamy before the bar of the Lok Sabha. The Congress party, which headed the government then, decided to oppose the motion and voted against it.

After Mukherjee presents his case, Rajya Sabha will deliberate on the matter which could also trigger a debate on the issue of judicial activism and overreach. The proceedings are expected to spill over to August 18.

Before the monsoon session began, there have been demands from several members and parties for a debate on the issue of judicial activism in the session that concludes on September 8 and the impeachment proceedings will provide an occasion for them.

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury will set the ball rolling in the House by moving the impeachment motion against the judge.