Soumitra Sen

Justice Soumitra Sen was appointed as the Calcutta High Court Judge on 3 December 2003. In 2007, he was held guilty of misappropriation of public funds by a committee of three judges set up by former CJI KG Balakrishnan in 2007. In 2010, Balakrishnan recommended his impeachment to the PM in a letter (Read here).[caption id="attachment_63850" align="alignleft" width="380" caption="Image from ibnlive.com"][/caption]The Rajya Sabha chairman constituted an Inquiry Committee to probe into allegations made against Justice Sen on 20 March 2009, which submitted its report on 10 September 2010 and found him guilty of "misbehaviour"Facts and Findings of the investigation by the Committee, as published in the official blog of PRS Legislative Research:During the period he was an Advocate:• Justice Soumitra Sen was appointed Receiver in a case by an order of the Calcutta High Court on April 30, 1984. A Receiver appointed by the High Court has the power to collect outstanding debts and claims due in respect of certain goods.• As required by the High Court, the Receiver should file and submit for passing, his half yearly accounts in the Office of the Registrar of the High Court. However, Justice Sen did not comply with this rule both as an Advocate and a Judge.• The High Court requires the Receiver to open only one account and not move funds without prior permission. However, the Committee found that two separate accounts were opened by Justice Soumitra Sen as Receiver, with ANZ Grindlays Bank and Allahabad Bank.• A total sum of Rs 33,22,800 was transferred in these accounts from the sale of proceeds of the goods which was not accounted for either when Justice Sen was an Advocate or when he was made a High Court Judge.• Justice Sen claimed he could not account for this amount since it was invested in a company called Lynx India Ltd. to earn interest. The Committee found this claim to be false as well.• The Committee concluded that this was a case of misappropriation of funds as both of the Receiver’s bank accounts were closed with a nil balance without any investments being made on behalf of the High Court.Biography (from Calcutta High Court official site):• Born on January 22, 1958.• Passed H.S.L.C. Examination from Don Bosco High School, Guwahati, Assam.• Passed B.Com Examination from Guwahati Commerce College. Passed LL.B. • Examination from the University College of Law, Calcutta.• Enrolled as an Advocate on 13 February 1984.• Practised in Civil and Constitutional matters in both the Original side and Appellate Side of the High Court at Calcutta.• Elected as a permanent Judge of the High Court at Calcutta on 3 December 2003.