The Union government is preparing to initiate impeachment proceedings against Allahabad High Court judge Yashwant Varma following serious allegations related to the discovery of a large stash of burnt currency notes at his official residence in Delhi earlier this year.“A final decision on the matter will be taken soon. It is difficult to ignore such a visible scandal,” a senior government source, indicating that the matter could come up in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament. Justice Varma was repatriated to the Allahabad High Court from the Delhi High Court after a Supreme Court-appointed in-house panel reportedly indicted him. While the panel’s findings have not been made public, the then Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna had written to the President and the Prime Minister recommending Varma’s impeachment.If the judge does not step down voluntarily, the Centre may move an impeachment motion in either House of Parliament. In the Rajya Sabha, such a motion requires the signatures of 50 members, while in the Lok Sabha, at least 100 MPs must support it. The motion must be passed by a two-thirds majority in either House. Once passed, the presiding officer of the respective House will formally request the Chief Justice of India to nominate a sitting Supreme Court judge and a High Court Chief Justice to a probe committee. The government will also appoint an eminent jurist to the panel to investigate the charges. Government sources said discussions are underway to ensure cross-party support for the motion. Consultations with opposition parties on the draft, which will include the probe committee’s findings, are expected soon. Justice Varma has denied any involvement, claiming he has no link to the money found after a fire at his residence. However, with mounting political and institutional pressure, his position has grown increasingly untenable.
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