Justice Varma Cash Scandal: Lok Sabha Speaker Orders Three-Member Probe Panel

Quick Summary

• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced teh formation of a three-member inquiry committee to investigate allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma, an Allahabad High Court judge.
• The allegations stem from the recovery of half-burnt currency notes at Justice Varma’s official residence in Delhi after a fire in March 2025.
• The committee includes:

– Justice Arvind Kumar (supreme Court)
– Justice Manindra Mohan Srivastava (Chief Justice of Madras High Court)
– Senior Advocate B.V. Acharya (Karnataka High Court).

• A memorandum seeking removal of the judge was submitted by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad and signed by 146 MPs across party lines.
• Procedural requirements stipulate that removal notices must have signatures from at least 100 Lok Sabha members and 50 Rajya Sabha members for consideration.
• Earlier, Justice Varma was transferred from Delhi High Court to Allahabad High Court following allegations linked to this incident.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The announcement of an inquiry committee brings focus to india’s judicial accountability processes and highlights the procedural rigor required for judicial impeachment or disciplinary action under constitutional guidelines. Forming a multi-member panel composed of prominent legal figures demonstrates seriousness toward ensuring that due process is followed, avoiding any perception of partisan interference.

Additionally, with MPs from both Treasury and Opposition benches backing the motion for investigation, it reflects broad political consensus on addressing integrity concerns.While details remain limited regarding how such cases impact public trust in judiciary credibility,this development could set precedents for handling similar situations in future.

Read more: Cash discovery row: Supreme Court dismisses plea related to panel report

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