Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju has confirmed that multiple political parties, including the Congress, are backing a motion to impeach Justice Yashwant Varma following the recovery of cash from his official residence earlier this year.
According to Rijiju, lawmakers from various parties have begun the process of collecting signatures required to formally initiate the impeachment motion. He emphasized that this move isn’t solely driven by the central government but is being carried out with broad parliamentary support.
What Prompted the Action?
In March, sacks filled with partly burnt currency were discovered at Justice Varma’s official quarters in Lutyens’ Delhi. At the time, he was serving as a judge of the Delhi High Court. Following the discovery, he was transferred to the Allahabad High Court. An internal inquiry led by Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjiv Khanna was initiated soon after.
Although Justice Varma has denied having any connection to the seized cash, the in-house inquiry found that he and his family had access to the room where the money was located. The panel ultimately recommended his removal based on the seriousness of the findings.
Impeachment Procedure Underway
Rijiju explained that the process of impeachment requires the signatures of at least 100 Members of Parliament from the Lok Sabha or 50 from the Rajya Sabha. Once the signatures are collected, the motion will be officially submitted to the presiding officer of the respective House.
After submission, an investigative committee will be formed under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. This panel will have three months to examine the evidence and submit a report. Based on the findings, the Parliament will then debate and vote on the removal motion.
All-Party Coordination
Rijiju clarified that the initiative is being coordinated with representatives from every major party and even single-member parties. He stated that this issue goes beyond politics and is about maintaining the integrity of the judiciary.
He added that since the signature collection is still in progress, a fixed timeline for presenting the motion in Parliament cannot yet be confirmed.
Efforts to remove Justice Yashwant Varma from office have gained cross-party support, with parliamentary leaders united in responding to the cash scandal that surfaced earlier this year. The process, which includes gathering signatures, forming an inquiry panel, and debating in Parliament, is being carried out in line with constitutional provisions and judicial accountability norms.
