RS MPs move plea to impeach Hyderabad HC judge CV Nagarjuna Reddy

Cutting across party lines, 61 Rajya Sabha MPs have submitted a petition seeking impeachment proceedings against J CV Nagarjuna Reddy  of the  Andhra Pradesh and Telangana High Court.

In the petition, the MPs alleged that J Nagarjuna Reddy misused his position as a high court judge to victimise a Dalit magistrate—Rama Krishna of Rayachoti.  There have also been allegations of amassing assets disproportionate to his income and physical assault and abuse on caste lines.

The allegations of Dalit atrocities and criminal misconduct by J Nagarjuna Reddy surfaced when ex-principal junior civil judge of Rayachoti, Kadapa District, Rama Krishna, who is currently under suspension, alleged that he was forced by J Nagarjuna Reddy to remove the name of Pavan Kumar Reddy—brother of J Nagarjuna Reddy—from a dying declaration recorded by him (Rama Krishna) when he was magistrate in Rayachoti.

The declaration in question was made in November 2012. J Nagarjuna Reddy's brother was accused of dousing M Ramanjulu with kerosene and setting him on fire, according to an NDTV report. 

Allegedly, J Nagarjuna Reddy has also not declared his assets to the Chief Justice in violation of the full court resolution of 1997 and possesses assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, the NDTV report added. 

“Around 61 MPs, including myself, have signed this petition. We will await his (Hamid Ansari's) ruling on the matter,” The Hindu quoted Communist Party of India (CPI) leader and Rajya Sabha MP D. Raja as saying. 

Besides the Left parliamentarians, several MPs from the Telegu Desam Party (TDP) were also signatories to the petition. 

As per the Judges Inquiry Act of 1968, if the motion is admitted, the speaker of Lok Sabha or the chairman have to constitute an investigation committee consisting of three members, including two judges. 

Hundred members of the Lok Sabha or 50 members of the Rajya Sabha have to sign the petition of impeachment.

If impeached, J Nagarjuna Reddy will be the fourth judge in independent India to face the threat of impeachment.
Former Supreme Court judge V Ramaswami was the first judge to face impeachment proceedings in the Parliamen but, the motion to impeach him did not gather the required support in Lok Sabha.

Former Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court PD Dinakaran resigned before his impeachment proceedings could be completed. He had resigned citing "lack of faith and confidence" in the three-member Inquiry Committee probing charges against him. 

Former judge of Calcutta High Court Soumitra Sen was the last judge who faced the impeachment proceedings. He became the first judge of independent India to be impeached in Rajya Sabha. However, he resigned ahead of the impeachment motion against him in the Lok Sabha.