Motion to impeach Sen likely next week

The Rajya Sabha will take up the impeachment motion against Calcutta high court judge Soumitra Sen on August 17. But only after the controversial judge confirms his participation. Nagendar Sharma reports.

The Rajya Sabha will take up the impeachment motion against Calcutta high court judge Soumitra Sen on August 17. But only after the controversial judge confirms his participation.

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Last year, justice Sen was indicted by a three-member committee on charges of misappropriation of public funds nearly three decades ago. The committee was formed by Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari.

The Parliament will see the first impeachment motion 18 years after the previous motion against justice V Ramaswami of the Supreme Court failed in 1993. The Rajya Sabha secretariat has informed justice Sen to be present in the House on August 17 to defend himself against the motion moved by CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury.

Opposition MPs, led by Yechury and other Left members, gave fresh notices for Sen's impeachment on Tuesday, demanding the motion be brought during the current session.

“We have been informed by the Rajya Sabha chairman's office about the date and the requirement of justice Sen to be present either himself or through his lawyer,” Justice Sen’s office told HT.

Sen’s lawyer, Subhash Bhattacharya, declined to confirm whether justice Sen would be present next week in Parliament or through his lawyer. He was also non-committal on whether the controversial judge would seek more time to present his defence before the House.

No judge has been impeached in India in six decades since the constitution came into existence on January 26, 1950.