Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday initiated the process for the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court by admitting a motion signed by 146 Members of Parliament. A three-member inquiry committee has been constituted to investigate the charges against the judge.
The committee comprises Supreme Court Judge Justice Aravind Kumar, Madras High Court Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, and senior Karnataka High Court advocate B.V. Acharya.
Justice Varma was repatriated from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court after burnt bundles of currency notes were discovered at his official residence on March 14. A subsequent in-house inquiry by the Supreme Court found him guilty of misconduct.
“The committee will submit its report at the earliest. The proposal for Justice Varma’s removal will remain pending until the report is received,” Mr. Birla told the House. He said he accepted the proposal on July 21 and formed the panel in accordance with Section 3(2) of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.
‘Foundation of trust’
Mr. Birla emphasised that an unimpeachable character, along with financial and intellectual integrity, forms the foundation of public trust in the judiciary. “The facts in this case point towards corruption and warrant action under Articles 124, 217, and 218 of the Constitution. Parliament must speak with one voice, sending a clear message of zero tolerance towards corruption,” he said.
Earlier, then Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna had asked Justice Varma to resign or face impeachment proceedings after receiving the in-house committee’s report in March. Justice Varma refused to step down, prompting CJI Khanna to forward the report to the President and Prime Minister, recommending his removal.
Justice Varma challenged the recommendation in the Supreme Court, but his plea was dismissed.
