Initiate Impeachment Motion Against Justice Shri Narayan Shukla: CJI Gogoi Writes To PM Modi

Justice SN Shukla, who became the judge of Allahabad High Court in October 2005, has a term up to 17^th July, 2020.

A judge of a High Court (and Supreme Court) can only be removed by an order of the President passed after an address by each House of Parliament supported by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two third of the members of the House present and voting. Such removal can be only on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.

More than 18 months passed after a three-judge in-house committee formed by the then CJI Dipak Misra returned its findings against Justice Shukla about his alleged involvement in Medical College Admission Scam. The allegation against him was that he permitted a private medical college admit students for academic year 2017-18, despite orders against it by the Medical Council of India and the Supreme Court.

The inquiry committee found that Justice Shukla had "disgraced the values of judicial life, acted in a manner unbecoming of a judge, lowered the majesty, dignity and credibility of his office". The then CJI Misra, thereafter withdrew all judicial work from him. CJI Misra also wrote to the President's Secretariat, requesting them to initiate removal proceedings against the Judge.

In August 2018, responding to a query made by MP Shashi Tharoor in Parliament, the Government acknowledged that it is in receipt of a letter from the Chief Justice of India, on the need to remove Justice Narayan Shukla of Allahabad High Court, based on the findings of the in-house committee which indicted him of gross misconduct and if so, the details thereof. The Government, however, dodged his another question regarding action taken by it to facilitate the removal of the Judge.