The Central Government is considering introducing an impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Verma. A Supreme Court inquiry committee found Verma guilty in the burnt cash case.
Justice Yashwant Verma: Justice Yashwant Verma is currently in the news due to the central government's preparations for his impeachment. This case gained prominence after a significant amount of burnt cash was discovered at the former Delhi High Court judge's official residence. The central government is now seriously considering introducing an impeachment motion against him during the monsoon session.
What is the entire case about?
After a large quantity of burnt cash was found in the outhouse of Justice Yashwant Verma's Delhi residence, the Supreme Court's in-house inquiry committee found him guilty. Based on this report, then-Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna wrote to the President and Prime Minister recommending Verma's impeachment.
Although this report has not yet been made public, Verma was subsequently transferred from the Delhi High Court back to his original posting at the Allahabad High Court.
Verma Refuses to Resign
Following the investigation, then-CJI Sanjeev Khanna asked Verma to resign, but he flatly refused. Verma maintains that all accusations against him are baseless. He claims that he had no connection to the cash recovered from his residence. Verma argues that the cash was found after a fire in his outhouse and that he is being wrongly implicated.
Government's Preparation – Plan to Introduce Impeachment Motion
According to government sources, the central government is working towards introducing an impeachment motion against Justice Verma during the monsoon session, commencing in the second half of July. If Verma does not resign, introducing the impeachment motion will be a government priority.
There is a defined procedure for introducing an impeachment motion in Parliament. Under Article 124(4) of the Indian Constitution, an impeachment motion is required to remove a judge of the Supreme Court or High Court. This requires the support of at least 100 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 50 MPs in the Rajya Sabha.
If the motion is passed by a two-thirds majority in both houses, Parliament requests the Lok Sabha Speaker or Rajya Sabha Chairman to constitute a three-member inquiry committee with the Chief Justice of India. This committee consists of a sitting Supreme Court judge, a Chief Justice of a High Court, and a distinguished jurist.
What is the Central Government's Strategy?
Sources suggest that the central government aims to introduce this impeachment motion with the consensus of opposition parties to ensure a fair and transparent process. This case has become politically sensitive, with both the ruling and opposition parties expressing their views.
According to government officials, the draft impeachment motion will include the Supreme Court inquiry committee's report, detailing the entire cash recovery incident.
Opposition's Role is Crucial
The government wants to keep the opposition informed, as sufficient parliamentary support is crucial for such a significant step as impeachment. A government official stated, "The matter is serious and cannot be ignored. We will soon take a final decision."
