CONSTITUTION OF INDIAArticle 121
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No discussion shall take place in Parliament with respect to the conduct of any Judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court in the discharge of his duties except upon a motion for presenting an address to the President praying for the removal of the Judge as hereinafter provided.
mcqquestion.com · Indian Polity🗣️ Exam Edge
🗣️ Article 121: No Discussion on Judges
Parliament cannot debate a judge’s conduct except by a procedure.
Art. 121No discussion on judicial conduct
ExceptionExcept on an impeachment motion
ParliamentRestricts what MPs may discuss
JudgesProtects judges from parliamentary attack
RestraintA check on parliamentary power
ExamOnly for judges of the SC and HCs
💡The trap: Article 121 forbids discussion of a judge’s conduct in Parliament except on an impeachment motion.
mcqquestion.comUPSC · CDS · NDA · CAPF · SSC
The single exception is the removal-motion — outside it, judges’ conduct cannot be discussed in Parliament, protecting judicial independence.
🏛️ Must Know
What Article 121 Restricts
- Article 121Restricts Parliament from discussing the conduct of a Supreme Court or High Court judge.
- The one exceptionDiscussion is allowed only during a formal removal motion.
- Why this mattersIt protects judges from political attack outside the impeachment process.
- So whatConduct can be raised, but only through the proper removal procedure.
- How to recall121 = no discussion of judges’ conduct, except in removal motions.
Discussion vs Removal
- Doesn’t block removalArticle 121 does not prevent a judge’s removal — it only restricts discussion.
- Formal routeRemoval runs through the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 and Articles 124/217.
- So whatThe restriction is on loose talk, not on legitimate removal.
- Why the line mattersBecause it lets accountability happen through the formal process while stopping casual political attack, options that blur discussion with removal are wrong.
🏘️ Good to Know
The Story of the Removal Motions
- 1993 RamaswamiParliament voted on India’s first-ever judge removal motion, against Justice V. Ramaswami.
- 2025 Varma146 MPs submitted a motion seeking Justice Yashwant Varma’s removal.
- 2026 resignationJustice Varma resigned on 9 April 2026, ending the proceedings.
- So whatOnce a judge resigns, the Article 121 removal process ends.
The Removal Procedure
- AdmissionA removal motion must be signed by members and admitted.
- Inquiry committeeA three-member committee investigates the charges.
- VotingBoth Houses need a special majority to remove.
- So whatThe 1968 Act and Articles 124/217 govern the full removal process.
✅ Test Yourself
Work through a 5-question chain on Article 121, then keep practising with a random Indian Polity question.
⚡ Great to Know
Why the Restriction Exists
- IndependenceJudicial independence needs protection from political censure.
- One narrow doorThe only door for discussing conduct is the removal motion.
- So whatThis balances accountability with independence.
- How to recallIndependence + one narrow accountability door.
- Why it mattersThe purpose-based reasoning is a common exam angle.
🎯 Exam Angle (PYQ & MCQ Traps)
UPSC CSP 2017: Parliament’s Control Tools
- QuestionUPSC and other competitive exams test Parliament’s powers to question and control the executive — and the limits on discussion, as in Article 121.
- WhyArticle 121 is a limit on discussion; understanding it needs the wider picture of parliamentary powers.
- LinkSource: UPSC CSP 2017 (see Q50).
The ‘No Discussion Ever’ Trap
- Trap optionParliament can never discuss a judge’s conduct.
- DistractorThe restriction sounds absolute.
- Fact testedDiscussion is allowed during a formal removal motion.
- Eliminate fastIf an option says ‘never’, it ignores the removal-motion exception.
- Try this ruleNo discussion EXCEPT in removal motions.
The ‘121 Blocks Removal’ Trap
- Trap optionArticle 121 prevents a judge’s removal.
- DistractorIt restricts discussion, so it sounds like it blocks removal.
- Fact tested121 restricts discussion only; removal proceeds separately via Articles 124/217 and the 1968 Act.
- Eliminate fastIf an option says 121 blocks removal, it is wrong.
- Try this rule121 = discussion; 124/217 = removal.
📰 Current Affairs
The 2025-26 Removal Episode
- DevelopmentThe 2025 Varma motion and 2026 resignation tested Article 121 in practice.
- Why it mattersIt showed how a resignation ends the removal process.
- So whatExpect it linked to current judicial-accountability questions.
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