61 MPs move to impeach AP high court judge

NEW DELHI: More than 60 Rajya Sabha members on Monday moved a petition seeking impeachment proceedings against a judge of the Andhra Pradesh/Telangana High Court alleging atrocities against a Dalit judicial officer. The Rajya Sabha Secretariat confirmed receiving the petition from 61 MPs and said a decision on its validity will be taken in the next two days after examining the matter.
But experts said, under the Judges Enquiry Act, 1968, the petition is bound to be admitted.

The petition, mainly signed by TDP and Left MPs, alleged that Justice C V Nagarjuna Reddy committed atrocities against a Dalit principal junior civil judge in Kadapa district to allegedly put pressure on him in a criminal case. As per the Judges Inquiry Act of 1968, if the motion is admitted, Speaker of Lok Sabha or Chairman constitutes an investigation committee consisting of three members, including two judges. Hundred members of the LS or 50 members of the RS have to sign the impeachment petition. Allegations of Dalit atrocities and criminal misconduct by the judge against Rama Krishna, ex-principal junior civil judge, Rayachoti, Kadapa District, currently under suspension, surfaced when the latter alleged he was forced by Justice Reddy to remove the name of Pavan Kumar Reddy, brother of Justice Reddy, from a dying declaration recorded by Rama Krishna when he was Magistrate in Rayachoti.