Impeachment proceedings against Calcutta high court judge Soumitra Sen are likely to be taken up by the Rajya Sabha next week. A panel appointed by Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari has found sufficient evidence against
Sen regarding corruption charges and judicial misconduct. Sources stated that the issue is likely to be taken up on August 17.
The motion seeking the removal of Justice Sen was admitted by Dr Ansari on February 15. The motion has not yet been taken up by the Rajya Sabha, since the Judges Inquiry Act, 1968 makes it clear that the impeachment motion must be passed by both Houses during the same session. The current session of Parliament is scheduled to conclude on September 8.
A sitting Judge of the SC or a high court can only be removed through impeachment by both the houses of Parliament with a two-thirds majority of MPs present and voting in favour of the motion, according to the Judges Inquiry Act, 1968.
Decks were cleared in November 2010 for initiation of impeachment proceedings against Justice Sen with a judicial committee set up by Ansari in its report stated that there was sufficient evidence to proceed against him.
The committee, which also included Punjab and Haryana high court judge Mukul Mudgal and noted Supreme Court lawyer Fali S. Nariman, had submitted its report to Dr Ansari on September 10.