Panel fast tracks probe against HC judge Yash­want Varma

HC judge Yash­want Varma

• Inquiry into Justice Varma fast-tracked due to member's impending retirement
• Hearings are held in-camera with strict restrictions on discussing proceedings
• Supreme Court issued notice on Varma's petition challenging committee formation

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The three-mem­ber inquiry com­mit­tee con­sti­tuted by the Lok Sabha Speaker to exam­ine alleg­a­tions against Alla­habad High Court judge Justice Yash­want Varma over dis­cov­ery of unac­coun­ted cash at his offi­cial res­id­ence in Delhi last year has fast-tracked its pro­ceed­ings, according to a report in Hindustan Times.

The decision to fast-track the case is reportedly in view of the impend­ing retire­ment of one of its mem­bers, Madras High Court chief justice MM Shrivast­ava, who is set to demit office on March 6.

Justice Shrivast­ava, a mem­ber of the com­mit­tee con­sti­tuted under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, has less than a month left in office, a factor that appears to have weighed with the panel as it intens­i­fied the pace of hear­ings, according to the publication.

The inquiry pro­ceed­ings against justice Verma are being held in-cam­era, in keep­ing with the stat­utory frame­work gov­ern­ing removal pro­ceed­ings against judges. There is also a strict restric­tion on law­yers and law officers asso­ci­ated with the mat­ter from speak­ing to the press or dis­cuss­ing the pro­ceed­ings out­side the com­mit­tee.

Justice Varma first appeared before the com­mit­tee on Janu­ary 24, shortly after the Supreme Court dis­missed his peti­tion chal­len­ging the ini­ti­ation of impeach­ment pro­ceed­ings against him.

In a related development, the Supreme Court on December 16 decided to examine a petition filed by Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma assailing the action of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to “unilaterally” constitute a committee under the Judges (Inquiry) Act to investigate him.

A Bench headed by Justice Dipankar Datta issued notice to the Lok Sabha Speaker through the Lok Sabha Secretariat, Lok Sabha Secretary General, and the Secretary General of the Council of States. The petition was filed under the acronym ‘X’ to maintain anonymity.