LS Speaker Reconstitutes Panel to Probe Justice Varma

• Om Birla reconstitutes three-member probe panel
• Committee to examine impeachment grounds against Justice Yashwant Varma
• Supreme Court dismisses Varma’s challenge to impeachment process
• Allegations surfaced after burnt cash found at Delhi residence

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 26th Feb: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has reconstituted a three-member committee to investigate corruption allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court.

According to a notice issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the panel has been formed to investigate the grounds on which the removal of Justice Varma has been sought.

The committee comprises Supreme Court Judge Justice Aravind Kumar, Bombay High Court Chief Justice Shri Chandrashekhar, and senior advocate BV Acharya.

SC Dismisses Appeal
The move follows the Supreme Court’s dismissal of Justice Varma’s appeal challenging the decision to admit an impeachment motion and the validity of the probe panel.

A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma held that statutory provisions cannot be used to stall parliamentary proceedings, observing that the arguments raised lacked legal foundation.

Background of Allegations
The controversy arose after firefighters responding to a call at Justice Varma’s official residence in New Delhi during Holi last year reportedly discovered burnt bundles of currency notes. The incident triggered nationwide concern and allegations of corruption.

Justice Varma denied any knowledge of the cash, terming the accusations “preposterous”.

Earlier, an in-house panel constituted by the Supreme Court had recommended impeachment. The report was subsequently forwarded to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The impeachment motion against Justice Varma had been endorsed by 146 Members of Parliament.

With the reconstitution of the committee, the process to examine the removal motion is set to proceed in accordance with parliamentary procedure.