Over 60 members of the Rajya Sabha have reportedly submitted a motion to seek the impeachment of Justice CV Nagarjuna Reddy, of the combined High Court of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
This would be the second attempt by the MPs, who had moved a similar motion in December last year.
According to the norm, the motion needs the signatures of at least 50 MPs
While 61 MPs initially supported the motion, 21 signatories later conveyed to Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari that they wanted to backtrack on the impeachment.
Following this, the house dropped the impeachment.
Writing for The Hindu, Kunal Shankar reported that the MPs were confident that they will not withdraw their names this time, and added that Ansari had already sought Chief Justice JS Khehar's advice.
The report adds that the next step would involve constituting a three-member committee consisting of a sitting Supreme Court judge and two High Court Chief Justices, who would send their ruling to both the houses of Parliament for a vote.
If both houses agree with the ruling with two-thirds majority, then the judge would be officially impeached.
There are several allegations made against Reddy, but this particular case pertains to claims of alleged discrimination against a Dalit judge.
The petition which was submitted in the Rajya Sabha earlier, reads, "There is an allegation made by a Mr Rama Krishna, formerly principal junior civil judge, Rayachoty, Kadapa district (Andhra), currently under suspension, that he was forced by Justice CV Nagarjuna Reddy to remove the name of a Mr Pavan Kumar Reddy, who happens to be the brother of Justice Reddy, from a dying declaration that was recorded by Rama Krishna when he was posted as magistrate at Rayachoty. Pavan Kumar Reddy is also the additional public prosecutor of Rayachoty courts."
According to reports, Rama Krishna recorded a dying declaration of a victim of a red sanders smuggling case, who went on record before his death, to state that he was set on fire by Pavan Kumar Reddy.
The allegation is that Pavan Kumar was trying to cover up by making someone own up for the theft of a car that was seized with the illegal wood.
It was further alleged that Pavan was able to operate with such impunity in the area, as his brother held a high judicial post.
According to a report in Livelaw, the motion also alleged that Justice Reddy abused his position to amass several movable and immovable properties worth several crores, and also that he had not disclosed his assets and liabilities, which was a violation of the rules.