Motion to impeach Justice Yashwant Varma to be taken up in Lok Sabha: Kiren Rijiju

Justice Varma was relieved of his judicial duties and repatriated to his parent High Court in April this year.

The motion to remove Justice Yashwant Varma, who is embroiled in the cash-at-home row, will be taken up in Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Friday.

The minister said it was agreed by all parties to move unitedly in action against alleged corruption in the judiciary.

Official sources told PTI the opposition-sponsored notice for a similar motion in Rajya Sabha has not been admitted in the Upper House, paving the way for the Lower House to initiate the exercise.

Speaker Om Birla is expected to announce the three-member enquiry committee to probe the charge against the Allahabad High Court judge.

"We shouldn't remain in any doubt, proceedings to remove Justice Yashwant Varma will begin in the Lok Sabha," Rijiju said.

According to the Judges (Inquiry) Act, the proceedings will move to Rajya Sabha after they are over in Lok Sabha.

Over 150 MPs of the ruling alliance as well the Opposition had signed the notice in Lok Sabha.
The decision to form a committee will be taken by the Lok Sabha Speaker, with Rajya Sabha concurrence. The action on the impeachment motion will be taken up only after the discussion on Operation Sindoor, according to reports.

Justice Varma is facing allegations of corruption after the cash discovery in March, when he was a judge at the Delhi High Court. After the controversy, Justice Varma was transferred to the Allahabad High Court, his parent High Court.

Varma approached the Supreme Court challenging the findings of an enquiry committee that cited “strong inferential evidence” against him and recommended impeachment proceedings. Varma argued that the enquiry committee concluded its proceedings without investigating key facts and had erroneously shifted the burden of proof onto him.

Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden resignation from the Vice-President’s post is also being attributed to his decision to initiate an Opposition-sponsored impeachment notice against Justice Varma.

His sudden resignation came on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on July 21.

Dhankhar announced in Rajya Sabha that he has accepted the Opposition’s motion. Till then, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla had not informed the House about the impeachment motion.

According to reports, Dhankhar taking up the impeachment notice against Justice Varma from the Opposition as Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha reportedly did not go well with the government. The Centre reportedly wanted it to be initiated in the Lok Sabha first.