India, May 28 -- An impeachment motion against sitting high court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma, is likely in the next session of Parliament. If the Union government brings forward such a motion, and if it is successful, it will mark a series of dubious firsts. No judge of a constitutional court in independent India has been removed by Parliament and never have members of a ruling dispensation brought a motion to impeach a sitting judge.

The Constitution bestows powers on Parliament for the removal of a judge under extraordinary circumstances and places a high bar on its usage - at least 100 signatories are needed in the Lok Sabha and 50 in the Rajya Sabha for an impeachment motion to be considered, and a two-thirds majority is required ...