58 MPs join hands to impeach high court judge

Over 50 Rajya Sabha MPs are learnt to have signed an impeachment motion against Madhya Pradesh High Court judge Justice S K Gangele, who was accused by a woman judicial officer of sexual harassment.

The move was initiated by JD(U) president Sharad Yadav and is being supported by MPs from Congress, CPM, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party and BSP.

Besides Yadav, the other MPs who have signed the petition include Sitaram Yechury, Digvijay Singh, Jaya Bachchan, Anu Agha and P Rajeeve are among those who signed the impeachment motion, sources said.

Some members of the legal fraternity had met the MPs and requested them to take up the matter, Yadav said. The judge was accused by the complainant, who is also a judicial officer, last year that she was transferred for not heeding to his advances. The complainant had later put in her papers as additional District and Sessions judge.

According to rules, at least 50 MPs have to give notice for impeachment of any judge of a High Court or the Supreme Court.

Citing three grounds of misconduct, the notice submitted to Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari has asked for a motion to be admitted for removal of Gangele under Article 217 read with Article 124 of the Constitution.

The allegations by the victim hogged headlines after she resigned on July 15, 2014, days after she was transferred to a remote district. She had then complained against Justice Gangele to the President of India, Chief Justice of India and the Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court.

The Rajya Sabha Vice Chairman will initiate the impeachment process by verifying the signatures of MPs.