Sen's impeachment proceeding in RS today

Rajya Sabha will be converted into a court today for its first impeachment proceeding against a judge as it takes up a motion against justice Soumitra Sen of Calcutta high court.

Rajya Sabha will be converted into a court on Wednesday for its first impeachment proceeding against a judge as it takes up a motion against justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta high court.

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The Upper House will make history when it initiates the process against the controversial judge who has been held
guilty on corruption charges by a specially constituted committee.

53-year old Sen will be the second judge against whom impeachment proceedings will be initiated when Rajya Sabha
takes up the motion.

The first such case involved the impeachment motion in Lok Sabha of justice V Ramaswami of the Supreme Court in May 1993 which fell due to lack of numbers after Congress members abstained.

The discussion on the motion is likely to spill over to August 18 and the occasion is expected to be utilised by the
Elders to express their views on judicial activism and overreach.

The first of the two grounds of misconduct against Sen being cited in the motion is misappropriation of large sums of
money, which he received in his capacity as receiver appointed by the high court.

While CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury will move the motion, Parliament sources said the judge, accompanied by about five
lawyers including Subhash Bhattacharya, will present his case before the Bar.

A 'bar' will be "posted" at the gate of the central aisle of the upper house facing the Chairman. A rostrum and a
chair will be placed for Sen or his counsel to present his case before the MPs. The bar is an indicator to show that a
non-member or an "outsider" cannot enter the House when it is meeting.