Sen's impeachment proceeding continues in RS

New Delhi, Aug 17: For the very first time setting up a history Rajya Sabha was converted into a court on Wednesday, Aug 17 to hear impeachment proceeding against a judge, as it took up a motion against Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta High Court.

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

53-year old Sen was the second judge against whom impeachment proceedings was initiated when Rajya Sabha took 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.

The second ground is that he misrepresented facts with regard to the misappropriation of money before 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.

PTI