Politics

Lok Sabha Speaker to Seek Party Input Before Acting on Justice Varma Impeachment

By PTI

Thiruvananthapuram – Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Wednesday that he will consult leaders of political parties and review the rules governing impeachment before deciding on action against Justice Yashwant Varma. A three‑member committee set up by Birla under the Judges Act submitted a report to both houses of Parliament in August, concluding that the charges of unexplained cash, disturbing evidence and evasive explanation against the judge were proved. Justice Varma has since tendered his resignation from the Allahabad High Court, but the resignation has not yet been notified by the law ministry and he remains listed as a judge of the court. Birla told reporters that he would examine the rules and consult party leaders before taking any future course of action. The probe panel was established after nearly 200 MPs from both ruling and opposition parties demanded his removal. When a high court or Supreme Court judge resigns, the resignation is normally deemed accepted, but in Justice Varma’s case the letter was sent only after the parliamentary removal process began, so it has not yet been accepted. A fire broke out at the judge’s official residence in Delhi on the night of March 14, 2025, and firefighters found large amounts of burnt currency in a storeroom. The Delhi High Court chief justice, after reviewing relevant laws and Supreme Court judgments, found the charges serious and initiated an in‑house procedure. The former Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, had set up the three‑member committee in March 2025 to investigate the allegations and, after receiving the report, asked Justice Varma to resign or face impeachment. When the judge declined to quit, Khanna forwarded the report and the judge’s response to the president and the prime minister for removal. Speaker Birla has stated that an unblemished character and financial and intellectual integrity are the foundation of public trust in the judiciary.