Lok Sabha Speaker accepts motion to impeach Justice Yashwant Varma, sets up probe panel

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday accepted the motion signed by 146 MPs seeking the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court over the recovery of unaccounted cash at his residence in Delhi during a fire incident on March 14.

Addressing the House, Birla announced the formation of a three-member committee to investigate the charges against Justice Varma. The panel comprises Justice Aravind Kumar of the Supreme Court, Madras High Court Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Srivastava and Karnataka High Court jurist BV Acharya.

The removal motion was submitted to the Speaker on July 21, the first day of the monsoon session, under Articles 124, 217 and 218 of the Constitution. The motion garnered support from MPs across parties, including the BJP, Congress, TDP, JDU, JD(S), Jan Sena Party, AGP, Shiv Sena (Shinde) and CPM.

Prominent signatories included BJP MPs Anurag Singh Thakur, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Rajiv Pratap Rudy, as well as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and NCP-SCP’s Supriya Sule.

The committee will examine the matter related to the recovery of cash at Justice Varma’s residence. The impeachment process for a judge is laid down under Article 124(4) of the Constitution. The panel will submit its findings to the Speaker, who will then place it before the House. The committee has the power to summon evidence and examine witnesses.

If the judge is found guilty, the report will be adopted by the House where the motion was initially introduced. A vote will then be held, requiring approval by at least two-thirds of members “present and voting” for the judge’s removal. The same process will be followed in the Rajya Sabha.