The government has initiated discussions with major political parties to build consensus around the impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Wednesday.
Justice Varma has been indicted by a Supreme Court-appointed in-house committee over alleged corruption charges. Emphasising the seriousness of the matter, Rijiju said the government wants a collaborative and unified approach across party lines to ensure the motion is introduced and passed during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, scheduled from July 21 to August 12.
“This is not one political party’s agenda. It is a stand of all parties to fight against the menace of corruption, whether it is the judiciary or any other space,” Rijiju told reporters. The minister added that the govt would like to bring all parties on board as corruption in the judiciary cannot be approached through a ‘political prism’.
Under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, once a motion is admitted in either House, a three-member inquiry committee—comprising the Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court judge, the Chief Justice of a High Court, and a distinguished jurist—is constituted to examine the allegations. Rijiju, however, pointed out that the current case presents a unique scenario.
However, Rijiju pointed out that the current case is “slightly different” as an inquiry committee headed by then Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has already submitted a report on the matter. “So what is to be done in this matter, we will take a call,” he said, adding that while the formal procedure must be followed, the findings of the in-house committee “cannot be brushed aside”.
The process has to be followed, but how to ‘integrate the inquiry already conducted’ needs to be decided, Rijiju said, indicating that procedural clarity will emerge as the Speaker decides how to proceed with the motion.
Responding to a query, the minister said the decision on whether the motion will be brought in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha will be taken based on the business of each House.
With political consensus building and the government pushing for accountability within the judiciary, the proceedings against Justice Varma could mark a significant step in India’s judicial reform narrative.
(With inputs from PTI)