RS chairman flags 'serious and culpable' issue over duplicate signature in judge removal motion

Time of India

a day ago

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday raised serious concerns over a procedural lapse in a motion seeking the removal of a high court judge, after it was found that a member's signature had appeared twice in the list of supporting MPs.
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Calling it a 'serious and culpable' matter, Dhankhar said such transgressions undermine parliamentary standards and merit deeper investigation.
The chairman informed the House that in December, he received a motion under Article 124 of the Constitution for the removal of a judge of the Allahabad High Court, ostensibly backed by 55 members of the Upper House. However, on verification, it was found that one particular MP had signed twice, reducing the effective count of signatories to 54.
'An enquiry was conducted to ascertain from the member about the duplicate signature. The honourable member declined having signed at two places. That made the matter more serious, requiring us to get to the bottom of the issue,' Dhankhar said, adding that the authentication and verification process of signatures was still underway.
He cautioned that if a motion carries two signatures of the same member, and the member denies having signed twice, 'the matter becomes serious and culpable.'
Dhankhar said he would consult floor leaders to decide what action should be taken in such cases to maintain the dignity of the House.
'This august House has to set very high standards. If we do not live up to the expectations of the people, we will be putting things under the carpet and not subjecting them to deep investigation,' he said.
In the same address, Dhankhar also referred to an earlier incident in the House where a bundle of Rs 500 notes was found on seat number 222.
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'What is more concerning is not that a wad of notes was found, but that no one has claimed it. This too is quite serious and will be placed before floor leaders for guidance,' he added.
The chairman further explained the procedural nuances under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, and the Constitution regarding removal motions. Since the current motion was also submitted in the Lok Sabha with over 100 MPs' signatures, he said both Houses must admit the motion simultaneously for a statutory committee to be formed.