By IANS,
New Delhi : Taking a dig at Justice Soumitra Sen, against whom the Rajya Sabha passed an impeachment motion Thursday, former law minister and Bharatiya Janata Party member Ram Jethmalani tore apart the Calcutta High Court judge’s defence in the upper house.
Supporting the impeachment motion, Jethmalani said: “Some members spoke of the eloquence of Justice Sen. But eloquence is often the property of charlatans.”
“Justice Sen should thank his stars that a three-member experts panel was asked to probe the charges against him. This gave him an opportunity to defend his case personally. But he chose to stay away and instead, sent his counsel.”
Asking the house not to be caried away by Justice Sen’s defence, the former law minister mentioned the need to have a more transparent system of appointing judges.
“Justice Sen would not have been made a judge had there been a better method of appointing judges,” said Jethmalani.
Questioning Justice Sen’s integrity, Jethmalani further said the “respondent” in the impeachment motion should have given up his charge a Receiver of the Calcutta High Court after he became a judge there.
“Justice Sen was a trustee of the funds he chose to divert to the account of a company. He should have given up his charge after becoming a judge,” said Jethmalani.
A house panel had found Justice Sen guilty of misappropriating Rs.24 lakh while he was a receiver of the Calcutta High Court.
Expressing hope that Justice Sen’s impeachment would send out a strong message, Jethmalani said: “A judge of similar mind will realise that parliament has a mind of its own.”