58 MPs seek removal of Calcutta HC judge

58 members of Rajya Sabha, cutting across party lines, on Friday petitioned the House Chairman for impeachment of Calcutta High Court Judge Soumitra Sen on grounds of financial misconduct.

58 members of Rajya Sabha, cutting across party lines, on Friday petitioned the House Chairman for impeachment of Calcutta High Court Judge Soumitra Sen on grounds of financial misconduct.

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The MPs, who include members from BJP, CPI(M), CPI, NCP, RJD, TDP, AIADMK and JD(U), submitted a petition jointly signed by them to Vice President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha Hamid Ansari for Justice Sen’s misapproval on the grounds of misappropriation and misrepresentation of funds, sources said.

The petition, the first step in the process of impeachment, has been based on the recommendation of Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for removal of Justice Sen, they said.

In the internal inquiry held by the CJI, Justice Sen was found to have indulged in a financial misconduct prior to his elevation to the Bench.

He allegedly received Rs.32 lakh as court-appointed receiver in a lawsuit between the Steel Authority of India Ltd and Shipping Corporation of India and deposited the amount in his personal account.

A three-member committee appointed by the CJI held Justice Sen guilty of misconduct in depositing the money in his personal account and preferring to retain the money even after his appointment to the Bench.