The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday took up the impeachment proceeding against Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta High Court. The Chairman, Mohammad Hamid Ansari spelt out the norms preceding the motion’s introduction. He read out the conclusions of the inquiry committee’s report recommending the grounds for impeachment proceedings against Justice Sen. The Chairman allowed Justice Sen to present his defence in 90 minutes. Subsequently, Mr. Sitaram Yechuri, CPM, moved the motion for the removal of Justice Sen through impeachment. The grounds on which Justice Sen is sought to be removed is for misappropriation of large sums of money which he received as receiver appointed by the Calcutta High Court and for misrepresenting facts with regard to the misappropriation of the money before the Court. Presenting his defence, Justice Sen denied the charge against him. Justice Sen arguing his case insisted that he is innocent and has been framed for ulterior motives by people who were inimical to him.

Justice Sen is the second judge to face impeachment proceedings in Parliament. In 1993, Justice V. Ramaswami of the Supreme Court had faced a similar motion in the Lok Sabha which was defeated.