The central government is seriously considering moving an impeachment motion in Parliament against Justice Yashwant Verma of the Allahabad High Court following a scandal involving the discovery of a large amount of burnt cash at his official residence in Delhi. This step is being evaluated as the Monsoon Session of Parliament approaches in the second half of July. If Justice Yashwant Verma, who was transferred from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court after the incident, does not voluntarily resign, the government is expected to take formal action to uphold judicial accountability.
Political and Legal Pressure Mounts
Justice Yashwant Verma came under scrutiny after an in-house inquiry panel appointed by the Supreme Court found evidence against him, although the details of the investigation have not been publicly disclosed. Following the inquiry, then Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna formally recommended Justice Yashwant Verma’s impeachment to the President and the Prime Minister. CJI Khanna reportedly urged Justice Yashwant Verma to step down, but the judge refused to resign. The government now appears to be preparing for a parliamentary impeachment motion, though formal proceedings have yet to begin.
Sources indicate that the government intends to build consensus across political parties before initiating the impeachment process, recognizing the gravity and visibility of the scandal. Justice Yashwant Verma has denied any involvement with the cash found after a fire broke out in his outhouse, maintaining his innocence amid the growing pressure.
Parliamentary Process for Impeachment
An impeachment motion can be introduced in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha. For the motion to be admitted, it requires the support of at least 100 members in the Lok Sabha or 50 members in the Rajya Sabha. After passing with a two-thirds majority, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha requests the Chief Justice of India to form an investigation committee comprising a sitting Supreme Court judge and a high court Chief Justice. Simultaneously, the government nominates an eminent jurist to join the panel.
The government plans to circulate the draft impeachment motion, which will detail the findings of the three-member committee that investigated the discovery of partially burnt cash at Justice Yashwant Verma’s residence when he was serving in Delhi. The case has attracted widespread criticism from political parties across the spectrum, and officials suggest that a final decision on the impeachment motion will be taken soon.
