Daily
250 words
7/10
Rating

18 July 2026

Editorial: India's Parliament and legislative processes

The topic provides a clear constitutional and legal analysis of the impeachment process for judges, citing specific constitutional articles, statutes, and landmark Supreme Court precedents relevant to GS2 syllabus themes.

2 min read Day 1 of 3 2 questions 2 prelims

Notes

  • Article 121 of the Constitution prohibits parliamentary discussion of the conduct of Supreme Court or High Court judges, except during a motion for removal.
  • The Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, establishes the procedure for the removal of judges, which includes an inquiry committee, a report, and an address to the President.
  • The removal process under the Act is intended solely for the removal of an incumbent from office; it does not provide for lesser penalties like censure or disqualification.
  • In Union of India vs Shri Gopal Chandra Misra (1978), the Supreme Court held that a High Court judge's resignation is a unilateral constitutional act that takes effect immediately upon the judge's choice.
  • Resignation by a judge extinguishes the jurisdiction of Parliament to proceed with impeachment, as the office becomes vacant.
  • Precedents such as the cases of Justice P.D. Dinakaran (2011) and Justice Soumitra Sen (2011) demonstrate that impeachment proceedings terminate upon the resignation of the judge.
  • Criminal allegations against former judges are subject to the ordinary criminal law, independent of the parliamentary impeachment process.

Part of a longer story

This is day 1 of 3 in Parliamentary discourse and legislative processes, which has been running since 18 July 2026. Reading it whole is usually worth more than reading today alone — the exam asks how something developed.

Questions

  1. Discuss the constitutional limitations on the power of Parliament to discuss the conduct of judges under Article 121. How does the resignation of a judge impact the jurisdiction of Parliament to initiate or continue impeachment proceedings? 150 words
    Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00
  2. Examine the constitutional status of a judge as a functionary and the legal implications of resignation on the removal process. In light of judicial precedents, analyze why the parliamentary impeachment mechanism is restricted to serving judges and the importance of this safeguard for judicial independence. 250 words
    Attempt this — 250 words in 11 min
    0 / 250 words 11:00

Prelims

  1. According to the Supreme Court's ruling in Union of India vs Shri Gopal Chandra Misra (1978), what is the nature of a High Court judge's resignation?

  2. Under the Indian Constitution, which Article restricts the discussion of the conduct of a Supreme Court or High Court judge in Parliament, except during a motion for removal?

Syllabus

Topics

Sources

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-07-18/editorial-india-s-parliament-and-legislative-processes