Left moves impeachment motion against Justice Sen

The Left moved an impeachment motion in Rajya Sabha backed by 58 MPs, including those from the BJP to remove tainted Calcutta High Court judge Soumitra Sen, reports Zia Haq.

The Left on Friday moved an impeachment motion in Rajya Sabha backed by 58 MPs, including those from the BJP to remove tainted Calcutta High Court judge Soumitra Sen.

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If this succeeds, Sen will earn the dubious distinction of being the first judge ever to be impeached since the Constitution came into force in 1950. Parliament rules require an impeachment motion to be moved by at least 50 lawmakers if it is brought up in Rajya Sabha and 100 members in case of Lok Sabha or Lower House. The impeachment motion has to be passed by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting in whichever house the motion is moved.

Supreme Court Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishna has recommended Sen’s removal on charges of corruption in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last August.

CPM Politburo member Sitaram Yechury slammed the Congress and said: “Since the government did not act, we did.” The motion, addressed to Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari states: “This house resolves to pass the motion for the impeachment of Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta High Court on the following two grounds of misconduct: Misappropriation of large sums of money which he received in his capacity as receiver appointed by the High court of Calcutta; misrepresented facts with regard to the misappropriation of money before the High Court of Calcutta.”