Lok Sabha Speaker Sets Up Panel to Probe Justice Varma
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has constituted a three-member committee to investigate allegations against Allahabad High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma, following the recovery of burnt cash from his residence. This marks the beginning of the formal parliamentary process for possible removal under constitutional provisions.
Committee Members Named
The inquiry panel will be headed by:
- Justice Aravind Kumar, Supreme Court judge
- Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, Chief Justice of the Madras High Court
- Senior Advocate B. V. Acharya, Karnataka High Court
The committee has been tasked with examining evidence and submitting its findings at the earliest. The impeachment motion, supported by members across party lines, will be taken up in Parliament after the panel’s report is tabled.
Background and Next Steps
The case stems from a fire incident at Justice Varma’s official residence in March, where half-burnt currency notes were discovered. An earlier in-house inquiry by the Supreme Court had found that Justice Varma had control over the area where the cash was kept and recommended initiating removal proceedings. The Supreme Court’s endorsement of those findings paved the way for the current parliamentary inquiry.
