नवीनतम
SC issues notice to LS on Justice Varma impeachment case
NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on a petition filed by Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma. The judge has challenged the inquiry committee set up to probe corruption allegations against him.
Justice Varma has questioned the validity of the three-member inquiry committee, saying it was formed only from Lok Sabha members under the Judges (Inquiry) Act procedure.
A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih issued notices to the Speaker’s office as well as the Secretaries-General of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, seeking their responses.
During the hearing, Justice Datta raised concerns over the process followed in Parliament. He remarked that several MPs and legal experts were present, yet no one objected to the formation of the committee. He questioned how legal experts in Parliament allowed this to happen.
The case stems from an incident on March 14, when a fire broke out in the storeroom of Justice Varma’s official residence in Delhi. Bundles of burnt currency notes were allegedly found at the spot. Following the incident, Justice Varma was transferred to the Allahabad High Court. The Supreme Court has listed the matter for further hearing on January 7, 2026.
The petition has asked the court to declare the Lok Sabha Speaker’s decision unconstitutional taken on August 12, 2025, and to set it aside. It challenges the Speaker’s move to form an inquiry panel under Section 3(2) of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, saying the step violates Articles 124, 217 and 218 of the Constitution and goes against due legal process.
Earlier, a three-judge internal panel of the High Court found Justice Verma guilty and recommended his removal. Acting on this report, the central government moved an impeachment motion against him in Parliament. The motion, signed by 146 Members of Parliament, was later accepted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
