**Title:** Political Consensus Grows for Impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma
**Meta Description:** All political parties unite to support the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma following the discovery of burnt currency at his residence.
**URL Slug:** impeachment-justice-yashwant-varma
**Headline:** Political Parties Unite for Impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma Amid Corruption Allegations
In a significant development, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced on Friday that there is a broad consensus among political parties regarding the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma. This decision follows the alarming discovery of burnt currency notes at the judge’s residence, as reported by news agency PTI.
In an interview, Rijiju stated, “I have engaged with senior leaders from various political parties and will also reach out to smaller parties to ensure no member is excluded. This reflects a unified stance from the Parliament of India.” He emphasized that the initiative is not government-driven but rather a collective effort from Members of Parliament across party lines, including support from the Congress party.
Rijiju highlighted the seriousness of corruption within the judiciary, stating, “Corruption in the judiciary is a critical issue, as it undermines the justice system. Therefore, the motion for Justice Varma’s removal is intended to be signed by all political parties.” He expressed appreciation for the Congress’s support, noting, “I am pleased they recognize the importance of this matter, as no party should be seen as defending a corrupt judge.”
The minister underscored the necessity for unity on this issue, asserting, “When it comes to judicial corruption, we must stand together. This should not be a partisan issue.” The Congress party has confirmed that all its MPs will back the motion against Justice Varma.
According to Rijiju, initiating a motion for a judge’s removal requires at least 100 signatures from Lok Sabha MPs and 50 from Rajya Sabha members. Once submitted, the chair will inform the House and commence an inquiry under the Judges Inquiry Act. This process includes a three-month investigation, followed by discussions in both Houses of Parliament based on the inquiry report.
The push for Justice Varma’s impeachment follows a fire incident in March at his residence in Lutyens’ Delhi, where half-burnt cash was discovered. At that time, he was serving as a judge in the Delhi High Court. Although Justice Varma was later reassigned to the Allahabad High Court, he was not given any judicial responsibilities. An internal inquiry led by then Chief Justice of India Sanjeev Khanna revealed that Justice Varma and his family had control over the storeroom where the money was found, concluding that the misconduct warranted his removal. Despite Justice Varma’s denial of any wrongdoing, the inquiry’s findings indicated otherwise.
In response to former law minister Kapil Sibal’s comments comparing Justice Varma to another judge, Rijiju dismissed the criticism, stating, “We will not be influenced by the agenda of any individual lawyer-MP. Our focus remains on addressing the serious issue of judicial corruption.”
**FAQ:**
**Q: What led to the impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma?**
A: The impeachment motion was prompted by the discovery of burnt currency notes at Justice Varma’s residence, raising serious concerns about corruption within the judiciary.
