Click to play videoNew Delhi: For the second time in the history of Independent India, proceedings for the impeachment of a high court judge have been initiated.
Fifty eight members of the Rajya Sabha have written to the chairman of the house to remove from office Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta high court after chief justice of India K G Balakrishnan wrote to prime minister in August last year for the impeachment of the judge for alleged misappropriation of funds.
CPM, Leader Sitaram Yechuri says, "We hope the chairman of the Rajya Sabha will."
Though some UPA allies like the NCP and RJD have joined this impeachement campaign of the left and the BJP, Congress for the moment is staying away and its MPs have not signed the petition.
Spokesperson, Congress Shakeel Ahmed said, "The law will take its own course."
The last time this parliament discussed and debated an impeachment motion was during the regime of Narsimha Rao, when Justice Ramaswamy of the Punjab and Haryana high court escaped removal from office when Congress walked out during the time of voting"
The statutory process to remove a high-court judge is both complex and difficult. Petition for the removal has to be signed by 50 MP's of the Rajya Sabha and 100 from the Lok Sabha and then in the same session of parliament both the houses have to adopt the motion by a special two thirds majority
This session will end next week so it is unlikely that the entire exercise would be complete by then. This gives temporary reprive to the judge.
Meanwhille, BJP Leader S S Aluwalia says, "Where there is will, there is a way."
So, in the last session, have the Left-BJP and some UPA allies joined hands just to embarrass the government on the issue of corruption.
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