Prelims Mantra (Day-31)

Impeachment process Vs Judiciary’ in-house inquiry:

• • Chief Justice of India (CJI) initiated an unprecedented three-member in-house inquiry into conduct of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma following allegations that wads of currency notes were found in his official residence where a fire broke out on March 14, 2025.
  • Internal inquiry of judiciary follows a process that is different from impeachment under Constitution.

 

Impeachment process:

• • Process of impeachment of a judge of Supreme Court is laid down in Article 124(4) of Constitution of India. Article 218 says same provisions shall apply in relation to a judge of High Court.
  • Under Article 124(4), a judge can be removed by Parliament through a laid-down procedure on only two grounds: “proved misbehaviour” and “incapacity”.
  • Judges Enquiry Act (1968) regulates procedure relating to removal of a judge of Supreme Court by process of impeachment.
  • A removal motion signed by 100 members (in the case of Lok Sabha) or 50 members (in the case of Rajya Sabha) is to be given to the Speaker/Chairman.
  • Speaker/Chairman may admit motion or refuse to admit it.
  • If it is admitted, then Speaker/Chairman is to constitute a three-member committee to investigate into charges.
  • Committee should consist of (a) chief justice or a judge of Supreme Court, (b) a chief justice of a high court, and (c) a distinguished jurist.
  • If committee finds judge to be guilty of misbehaviour or suffering from an incapacity, House can take up the consideration of motion.
  • For an impeachment motion against an SC or HC judge to be accepted, at least two-thirds of those “present and voting” in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha must vote in favour of removing judge — and number of votes in favour must be more than 50% of “total membership” of each House.
  • After motion is passed by each House of Parliament by special majority, an address is presented to president for removal of judge.
  • Finally, president passes an order removing the judge.
  • In cases where Lok Sabha is dissolved or its term ends, a motion for impeachment of a judge would fail.

 

In-house procedure:

• • CJI or Chief Justice of an HC may be called upon to examine a complaint against a judge.
  • Essentially, this process begins when Chief Justice of a HC, CJI, or President of India receives a complaint. CJ of HC or President will forward complaint to CJI.
  • This complaint can be dropped at any stage, if not found serious enough by CJI. However, to test veracity of complaint, CJI can seek a preliminary report from CJ of the HC concerned.
  • If CJ of HC, in the preliminary report, recommends that a “deeper probe” is warranted, CJI may examine recommendation and statement of judge facing accusations, and then decide to order a three-member inquiry, comprising two other HC Chief Justices and one HC judge.
  • This committee has powers to devise its own procedure “consistent with the rules of natural justice”.
  • Once the inquiry has been concluded, committee will submit its report to CJI.
  • If report finds there is substance to the allegations, it will be sent to the judge concerned as well. If committee concludes that misconduct is not serious enough to warrant removal proceedings, the CJI may “advise” the judge concerned, and direct that committee’s report be placed on record.
  • If committee decides that allegations are serious enough to initiate removal proceedings, CJI will advise the concerned judge to resign or retire voluntarily.
  • If the judge does not accept, CJI will direct HC Chief Justice not to assign any judicial work to said judge.
  • If judge does not abide by CJI’s advice to resign or retire, CJI will inform President and Prime Minister of committee’s finding that removal proceedings should be initiated.

 

Lord Nilamadhab Temple:

• • President of India made darshan and puja at Lord Nilamadhab Temple.
  • Very old and famous Vishnu temple which is near to bank of Mahanadi River at Kantilo in Nayagarh district, Odisha.
  • According to Puranas, many years ago Lord Vishnu was worshiped as Nilamadhab by sabar king Biswabasu. After that, Lord Nilamadhab appeared as Daru murty in Puri Shreemandir. So, this place is the origin of Lord Jagannath.
  • The design of this temple is very similar to Puri Jagannath temple and the rituals of lord Nilamadhab is almost same as in Puri Shreemandir.

 

Data-Driven Research to Eradicate TB (Dare2eraD TB):

• • It is an umbrella program launched by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) on World TB Day, 24th March 2022 to strengthen TB elimination efforts in country.
  • Indian Tuberculosis Genomic Surveillance Consortium (InTGS) is one of the key components of program and is proposed as a joint initiative between Ministry of Science & Technology and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, led by Department of Biotechnology.
  • InTGS will monitor genomic variations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) on regular basis through multi-laboratory network established between RePORT India Consortium and TB laboratories of National TB Elimination Program.

 

“Africa India Key Maritime Engagement”, or “AIKEYME”:

• • A large-scale multilateral maritime engagement exercise with African Countries, titled as ‘Africa India Key Maritime Engagement’ also known as‘AIKEYME’, which means ‘Unity’ in Sanskritis an initiative to enhance interoperability with the navies/ maritime agencies.
  • The maiden edition of the exercise is being co-hosted by Indian Navy and Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Force (TPDF)and would be conducted at/ off Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, planned in mid-April 2025.
  • 10 countries will participate in inaugural exercise.

 

IOS Sagar:

• • Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar is an initiative towards continued cooperation with IOR nations.
  • One Indian Naval ship (INS Sunayna) is being deployed to the Southwest IOR with a combined crew of India and nine Friendly Foreign Countries (Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, South Africa).
  • The ship is planned to be deployed for over a month in April 2025 and would be undertaking port calls at Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis, Port Victoria and Male and Joint surveillance of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius and Seychelles.
  • Participants of IOS Sagar are also planned to witness harbour phase activities of Exercise AIKEYME at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

 

Melting of permafrost is creating new risks in J&K, Ladakh UTs, says new study:

• • Permafrost is any type of ground – soil, sediment, rock, etc. – that has been continuously frozen for at least two years.
  • Permafrost stores several tonnes of organic carbon. As it melts, the carbon is released into the environment, including in the form of methane, a very potent greenhouse gas and climate pollutant.

 

Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum in New Delhi:

• • This initiative is part of Central Vista Redevelopment Project.  
  • It includes transformation of two blocks of symmetrical buildings into museum spaces for creation of a new National Museum elucidating thousands-year-old civilizational and cultural heritage.
  • An agreement has been signed on 19^thDecember 2024 between National Museum & France Museums Development for technical cooperation for development of upcoming museum.

 

Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya:

• • A UNESCO World Heritage contender, it is woven entirely from the aerial roots of rubber fig trees, creating a living, breathing pathway that grows stronger with time.

 

Places in the News:

• • Turkiye: Massive demonstrations began in Istanbul after Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu’s arrest. Mr. Imamoglu was voted as the main Opposition party’s candidate for the 2028 presidential elections.
  • Pastoruri glacier in Peru.
  • Thajiwas Glacier in Sonmarg, Jammu & Kashmir.

PRACTICE MCQs

 

Q1. AIKEYME Exercise is –

a) Multilateral maritime exercise of Australia in Indo-Pacific region.

b) Multilateral European exercise hosted by French air Force.

c) India’s multilateral maritime engagement exercise with African Countries.

d) India’s bilateral maritime exercise with Sri Lanka.

Answer: C

 

Q2. Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum is being set up in –

a) New Delhi

b) Kolkata

c) Dholavira

d) Mumbai

Answer: A

 

Q3. Consider the following statements about impeachment process of a High Court Judge:

1. Constitution of India delineates the procedure relating to removal of a judge of Supreme Court by process of impeachment.

2. A removal motion signed by 100 members (in the case of Lok Sabha) or 50 members (in the case of Rajya Sabha) is to be given to the Speaker/Chairman.

3. Removal motion must be passed by each House of Parliament by special majority.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 only

c) 2 and 3 only

d) 3 only

Answer: C

 

Q4. Consider the following statements about in-house inquiry to examine complaint against a High Court judge:

1. To test veracity of complaint, the Chief Justice of India can seek a preliminary report from Chief Justice of the concerned High Court.

2. Based on recommendations, the Chief Justice of India decides to order a three-member inquiry, comprising one other High Court Chief Justice and two High Court judges.

3. If committee decides that allegations are serious enough to initiate removal proceedings, the Chief Justice of India will advise the concerned judge to resign or retire voluntarily.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: C

 

Q5. Consider the following statements about Lord Nilamadhab Temple:

1. It is Lord Vishnu temple located near to bank of Mahanadi River in Nayagarh district, Odisha.

2. This place is considered as the origin of Lord Jagannath.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

 

 

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