New Delhi, Dec 14 (IANS) Seventy-five Rajya Sabha members from non-Congress parties Monday submitted a notice to Chairman Hamid Ansari seeking the removal of Karnataka Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran, who faces allegations of land grabbing.
“Notice of the motion signed by 75 members of the Rajya Sabha under Judges (Enquiry) Act 1968 for removal of Justice P.D. Dinakaran was presented to the Chairman Rajya Sabha today (Monday),” an official statement said.

“The matter is being examined as per the provisions of the act and the rules framed thereunder,” the statement added.

Informed sources said that should the notice be accepted, a three-member committee would be set up to take the matter forward.

A petition seeking to launch impeachment proceeding needs to be signed, under the law, by at least 50 MPs of the Rajya Sabha or 100 MPs of the Lok Sabha. After securing the required signatures, the petition is to be submitted to the Rajya Sabha chairman or the Lok Sabha speaker, as the case may be.

Once the Rajya Sabha chairman gets the signed petition, he/she is required to constitute a committee of three people - a sitting Supreme Court judge, a high court chief justice and a jurist - to inquire into the charges and submit their report to the house.

If they find the judge guilty and recommend his removal, the matter is sent for voting to parliament where it has to be approved by a two-thirds majority of each house (present and voting) and an absolute majority of the total membership of each house.