In a dramatic escalation of events surrounding Justice Yashwant Varma, Sabha Speaker Om Birla has constituted a formidable three-member panel to investigate damning allegations against the judge—following the discovery of an enormous stash of cash from his official residence in Delhi. The development propels the impeachment process forward with unprecedented speed.
Reports emerged that the fire that inadvertently exposed the scandal broke out on March 14, when Justice Varma was reportedly absent. What was found in its aftermath sent shockwaves through the judiciary—piles of currency notes stacked over 1.5 feet high, hidden in a room over which Justice Varma and his family allegedly maintained “active control,” as per a probing in-house panel report. Following this revelation, the Supreme Court swiftly transferred him from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court and stripped him of all judicial duties.
Subsequently, the apex court appointed an in-house inquiry panel. After grilling 55 witnesses, the panel concluded that there was “sufficient substance” in the charges and recommended the judge’s removal. This set the stage for formal impeachment proceedings in Parliament.
Accepting a motion signed by 146 MPs, Speaker Om Birla, according to reports, declared, “The committee will submit its report as early as possible. The proposal will remain pending till the receipt of the report.” The committee formed to examine the charges includes Justice Aravind Kumar of the Supreme Court, Justice Maninder Mohan, Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, and senior advocate BV Acharaya.
The panel is allowed to summon evidence and cross-examine witnesses.
According to Article 124(4) of the Constitution, if the committee finds the judge guilty, its report is laid before the House in which the motion originated.
The next step is that the motion must secure a two-thirds majority of those “present and voting” in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to pass.
Given that both the ruling coalition and the opposition are united in their stance, Justice Varma’s impeachment is expected to face no roadblocks.
Earlier, Justice Yashwant Varma had moved the Supreme Court, challenging both the findings of the in-house inquiry and the recommendation by the then Chief Justice of India to the President seeking his removal.
He claimed the inquiry panel had acted in a “pre-determined manner” and deprived him of a fair opportunity to present his defence. The Supreme Court, however, threw out the petition, holding that there had been no breach of the petitioner’s fundamental rights.
With all arms of the state appearing aligned, the fall of Justice Yashwant Varma seems imminent.
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