145 Lok Sabha and 64 Rajya Sabha MPs submit notice seeking removal of Justice Yashwant Varma
PTC News Desk: The impeachment process of Justice Yashwant Varma has been initiated after 145 MPs in Lok Sabha and 63 MPs in Rajya Sabha from both ruling government and opposition on Monday submitted a petition for the same.
The development follows months after a pile of burnt cash was found at Justice Varma's residence. Justice Varma has however dismissed any links to the cash and labelled the allegations of impropriety against him and members of his family "preposterous". He has also claimed a 'conspiracy' against him.
However the discovery of cash triggered a massive row and prompted Supreme Court to form an in-house inquiry panel that in its report found judge and his family had active control over the storeroom, where the cash was found, proving his misconduct serious enough to seek his removal.
Notably this is the first time in the history of independent India that a sitting judged has been impeached.
The central government on Sunday confirmed that it intends to try and remove Justice Varma, who has since been returned to his parent High Court in Allahabad, and stood down from active duty.
Amongst the signatories are ex-union minister Anurag Thakur from the BJP, the Congress' Rahul Gandhi, and Supriya Sule from the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party faction.
- With inputs from agencies
