Lok Sabha Initiates Probe into Allegations Against Justice Varma
The Lok Sabha has formally begun the process for the removal of Allahabad High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma. Speaker Om Birla has admitted a motion signed by 146 Members of Parliament and has constituted a three-member panel to investigate "serious" allegations against the judge.
Panel to Investigate Serious Charges
The move follows an in-house inquiry into the alleged discovery of unaccounted cash at Justice Varma's official residence in New Delhi after a fire in March of this year. The Speaker announced in the house that given the serious nature of the charges, the process for removal should begin.
The high-level inquiry committee will be composed of:
- Supreme Court judge Justice Aravind Kumar
- Madras High Court Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava
- Senior advocate B V Acharya
This committee is tasked with probing the allegations and submitting its report as early as possible.
Legal Challenges and Next Steps
The impeachment motion comes after the Supreme Court recently dismissed a petition from Justice Varma challenging the internal inquiry against him. He had argued that the in-house mechanism was an "extra-constitutional" process.
With the Speaker's announcement, the motion for the judge's removal will now remain pending until the inquiry committee submits its findings. The formation of the panel marks a significant and formal step in the constitutional process of judicial impeachment.
