Justice Yashwant Varma's removal imminent? These three judges to probe charges against him
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday constituted a three-member committee to probe the charges against Justice Yashwant Varma who is involved in a cash recovery row.
Birla made the announcement in the Lok Sabha after admitting a notice for the removal of the Allahabad High Court judge.
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 (for removal of Justice Varma) will remain pending till the receipt of the report of the inquiry committee," Birla said.
Wads of burnt cash were found following a fire in the storeroom of Justice Varma’s official residence in Delhi on March 14. An in-house inquiry panel constituted by the Supreme Court has found him guilty of misconduct.
Last week, the top court rejected Justice Varma’s plea seeking invalidation of the in-house inquiry report. He had also sought quashing of the May 8 recommendation by then Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna urging Parliament to initiate impeachment proceedings against him.
A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih held Justice Varma's conduct did not inspire confidence, not meriting his plea to be examined.
A fire broke out at around 11:35 pm on March 14 at Justice Varma’s official bungalow in 30 Tughlak Crescent in the national capital, leading to the discovery of wads of burnt cash during fire-fighting.
As the controversy raged, the SC collegium recommended the transfer of Justice Varma, who was a judge at the Delhi High Court at that time, to Allahabad High Court.
India