Justice Yashwant Varma impeachment: In a big set back for Justice Yashwant Varma, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday accepted motion signed by 146 MPs for impeachment of the Justice. Speaker Om Birla announced that a 3-member panel will probe allegations against High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma.
Om Birla said, “The members of the Committee include Justice Arvind Kumar, Supreme Court Judge, Justice Maninder Mohan Srivastava, Chief Justice Madras High Court, and BV Acharya, Senior Advocate, Karnataka High Court. The committee will submit its report as early as possible. The proposal will remain pending till the receipt of the report of the inquiry committee.”
What Supreme Court said about row?
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court dismissed Allahabad High Court judge Yashwant Varma’s plea seeking invalidation of an in-house inquiry report finding him guilty of misconduct in the cash discovery row.
Wads of burnt cash were found following a fire in the storeroom of the judge’s official residence in the capital on March 14.
Questioning Justice Varma’s conduct, the top court said he did not object to the photographs or video footage being uploaded and participated in the inquiry without demur.
What is the case?
A fire broke out at around 11:35 pm on March 14 at the judge’s official bungalow in 30 Tughlak Crescent in the national capital, leading to the discovery of wads of burnt cash during fire-fighting, eventually paving way for a damning report of the SC-appointed panel recommending his removal. Justice Varma has moved SC seeking invalidation of a report by an in-house inquiry panel.
