Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jan 16: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the petition filed by Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, challenging the legality of the parliamentary panel probing corruption allegations against him.
A two-judge bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice SC Sharma pronounced the verdict, rejecting Justice Varma’s plea. The apex court had reserved its judgment on January 8 after hearing arguments from senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Siddharth Luthra for Justice Varma, and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta representing both Houses of Parliament.
During the hearing, Rohatgi and Luthra questioned the procedure adopted to constitute the parliamentary committee. They argued that under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, only the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha are empowered to admit a motion for the removal of a judge, and that the process followed in this case was flawed.
Justice Varma had approached the Supreme Court challenging the impeachment proceedings initiated against him, contending that the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, was not followed and that the motion for his removal was not passed by both Houses of Parliament on the same day. He also challenged the legality of the three-member inquiry committee constituted solely by the Lok Sabha, asserting that such a panel must be formed jointly by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha once a motion is introduced in both Houses.
Justice Varma is facing a parliamentary inquiry under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, to probe allegations of corruption. Earlier, the three-member inquiry panel, after examining over 55 witnesses, reported the recovery of piles of burnt and unburnt cash from a storeroom within the premises of 30 Tughlaq Crescent, the official residence occupied by Justice Varma.
In its 64-page report, the panel indicted Justice Varma for misconduct and recommended his removal. The committee observed that there was no plausible explanation from Justice Varma regarding his claim that he had no knowledge of the cash found at his residence. “It is unbelievable. If there was any conspiracy, why did he not file a complaint or inform the Chief Justice of the High Court or the Chief Justice of India?” the report noted.
Justice Varma has consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that he has not committed any wrongdoing or offence.