Facing impeachment, Justice Sen counters charges

Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta high court, who has been indicted by a judicial committee on an impeachment motion, has filed his reply to the Rajya Sabha, countering the charges against him.

In his reply submitted on Thursday, Justice Sen is understood to have contended that he had done no wrong and there was no basis for the charges against him, on the basis of which he was found guilty by the committee set up by Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari, sources said.

Ansari had set up the three-member committee headed by Supreme Court Judge B Sudarshan Reddy after 58 Members of Parliament moved an impeachment motion against Sen in March last year under the Judges Enquiry Act.

The report, which was tabled in the House on November 10, said the charges of 'misappropriation of large sums of money' which Sen received in his capacity as receiver appointed by the high court of Calcutta and misrepresenting facts with regard to it were 'duly proved'.

Sen was given time till Thursday to file his reply.

Rajya Sabha sources said that the Business Advisory Committee would fix a date for taking up the matter in the House. Sen will have a chance to defend his case in the House either personally or through his lawyer.

The committee has found the judge guilty of collecting Rs 33,22,800 from a purchaser of goods, keeping it in a savings bank account and misrepresenting facts to the high court.

This is the second case in the history of the country in which Parliament has initiated proceedings for removal of a judge. The first involved Justice V Ramaswami.

For the impeachment proceedings to be carried out, the motion has to be passed by two-thirds majority in both Houses in the same session in which it is taken up.

With only a day left in the winter session, the matter is expected to be taken up for consideration in the budget session.