New Delhi, Aug 18: Creating history, Rajya Sabha today overwhelmingly approved impeachment motion against Calcutta High Court Judge Justice Soumitra Sen, who could become the country's first judge to be removed for misconduct.
 After a seven-hour impeachment process marked by a brainstorming debate, 189 members of the 206 present in the 245-member House voted in favour, recording well over 2/3rd majority required for such a move.
 The impeachment, first time in the Rajya Sabha and second in Parliament's history, saw members of all parties, except BSP, holding Sen guilty of misappropriating Rs 33.23 lakh in a 1983 case.
 As per the charges, the amount was under his custody as a court-appointed receiver in the capacity as a lawyer and he had diverted these and misrepresented facts later.
 Sen yesterday appeared before the House and argued that he was a "victim" and appealed to members to vote by conscience. The House, however, rejected his defence, coming at a time when the issue of corruption is hogging the headlines.
 Replying to the debate, which started yesterday after he moved the motions, Yechury said Sen had given "false and misleading" statements to the House despite presence of authenticated documents. He held him guilty of "omission and commission".
 Impeachment proceedings were undertaken after an Inquiry Committee, set up by Rajya Sabha Chairman, held Sen guilty of misconduct.
 Among those who participated in the debate were Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley, E M Sudarsana Natchiappan (Cong), Satish Chandra Mishra (BSP), N K Singh (JD-U), D Raja (CPI) and noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani (BJP).
 With Rajya Sabha giving its nod for Sen's removal, the impeachment motions will now be taken up by the Lok Sabha, expectedly on August 24-25.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 18 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 18 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST