Is that all? The judge's wrongdoing ends with his resignation (“Sen and sensibility,” editorial, Sept. 6)? Why not ensure criminal action against him? If he were a typical government servant, not only would he have been dismissed, but also proceeded against criminally. The concept of “double jeopardy” is given the go-by in such cases involving government servants. Is a judge a special person? Will the Supreme Court look into this? We need answers.
R. Manthramurthy,Chennai
Undoubtedly, good sense has pre-empted the inevitable. But what about the precious time and public money consumed while undertaking the impeachment motion by Parliament? Furthermore, will a public servant facing corruption charges and who offers to resign be let-off? Are we equal before the law as enshrined in our Constitution?
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Justice Soumitra Sen defending himself in the Rajya Sabha reminded me, a student of English literature and Indian history, of Shylock pleading before the Duke of Venice: “What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong?” and of Warren Hastings, who was ultimately acquitted of all charges, and who sarcastically remarked in the House of Lords: “I would have been better off had I pleaded guilty!”
Our Parliament deserves some credit in completing the impeachment proceedings in the Rajya Sabha in three days whereas it took the House of Lords a total of 148 days for seven long years to acquit Warren Hastings of all charges.
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Col. C.V. Venugopalan (retd.),Palakkad
I feel sorry for the common Indian who has to undergo various court sessions and cumbersome procedures for many years hoping that the unresolved case would be solved one day. But a government servant like Justice Soumitra Sen has given them reason to worry. The position needs a man of dignity and integrity. Why drop the impeachment charge?
Anshul Pant,New Delhi
When charges are pending against government officials in the lower rungs for misappropriation of public funds, “honourable exit routes” like resigning are not allowed and disciplinary proceedings end in severe punishment. I know of a bank manager summarily dismissed for some cases of temporary misappropriation during his last two years of service He was denied all his retirement benefits except his own contribution to his provident fund. There are also cases of public sector banks inflicting severe punishment on staff even for minor offences. I think the President should not have accepted the resignation of Justice Sen and the impeachment proceedings should have been allowed to come to their logical conclusion.
K. Lakshmanan,Tiruchi
By digging his heels in till the inevitable, Justice Sen has done more harm to the high office held by him and unto himself.
G. Kulandaivelu,Karaikal
Resigning just in time and prior to impeachment proceedings by itself does not speak well of the judge who was sought to be impeached. If legislators, administrators and members of the judiciary themselves do not practise good governance, what respect can they command among the general public and how can justice be ensured in judicial proceedings and administrative aspects?
R.S. Raghavan,New Delhi
At a time when so much is talked about corruption and Team Anna is fighting to bring even the higher judiciary into the Lokpal-fold, it is rather ironical that a senior judge is facing charges of graft. It highlights the need to put in place a super Lokpal authority to monitor even the judiciary.
A.V. Narayanan,Tiruchi