Govt Likely To Bring Impeachment Motion Against Justice Yashwant Varma In Parliament: Sources
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Government sources told CNN-News18 that they would take opposition parties into confidence before taking any step against Justice Yashwant Varma
The Union government is likely to bring in Parliament an impeachment motion against Allahabad High Court judge Yashwant Varma, who was indicted by a Supreme Court-appointed probe panel after the discovery of a huge sum of burnt cash from his official residence in the national capital.
Government sources told CNN-News18 that they would speak to all opposition parties before taking any step against Justice Varma, who faced criticism from political parties across the spectrum.
Sources within the government have indicated that an impeachment proceeding could be considered during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, with Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moving the motion.
Verma was recently transferred from the Delhi High Court back to the Allahabad High Court following the controversy.
According to sources, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna had written to both the President and the Prime Minister recommending Justice Verma's impeachment, following an internal inquiry by a Supreme Court-appointed panel.
While the inquiry reportedly indicted the judge, the panel's findings were not made public. CJI Khanna had also privately urged Justice Verma to resign, but he declined to do so, the sources said.
An official, however, clarified that no formal proceedings have yet begun against the judge. Justice Verma has maintained his innocence and denied any involvement with the cash discovered after a fire at his outhouse.
An impeachment motion against a judge can be introduced in either House of Parliament, but it must meet specific criteria to proceed.
In the Rajya Sabha, the motion requires the backing of at least 50 members, while in the Lok Sabha, it needs the support of 100 members.
If the motion secures a two-thirds majority in the House where it is introduced, the Speaker or the Chairman refers it to the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
The CJI then nominates a sitting Supreme Court judge and a Chief Justice of a High Court to form part of a three-member investigation committee. The government nominates the third member—an 'eminent jurist"—to complete the panel.
According to government sources, the motion will include findings from the committee that looked into the incident involving bundles of half-burnt cash discovered at the judge's residence during his tenure with the Delhi High Court.
The government is expected to seek consensus across party lines and will consult the opposition before finalising the draft motion.
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