Key Points
- Impeachment motion against Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma to be introduced in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session.
- Large sum of unaccounted cash recovered from Justice Varma’s official residence in Delhi after a fire incident.
- Signature drive underway: BJP, NDA, and major opposition parties are backing the move.
- Motion requires 100 Lok Sabha and 50 Rajya Sabha signatures for introduction; passage needs a two-thirds majority in each House.
- If passed, a high-level probe committee will be formed, including a Supreme Court judge and a High Court Chief Justice.
– Monsoon Session runs from July 21 to August 12, 2025.
New Delhi: In an unprecedented move, the Centre is poised to introduce an impeachment motion in the Lok Sabha for the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma, a sitting judge of the Allahabad High Court. The action follows the sensational recovery of a huge amount of cash from his official Delhi residence, igniting a political and judicial storm.
The Cash Scandal: What Triggered the Crisis?
The controversy erupted after a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s residence in March 2025. Emergency responders discovered sacks of burnt currency notes in an outhouse on the property. Subsequent investigations, including a Supreme Court-appointed in-house committee, confirmed the recovery and indicted Justice Varma for misconduct.
Justice Varma, who was then serving in the Delhi High Court, denied any wrongdoing, claiming the cash did not belong to him and that the storeroom was accessible to others. Despite his defense, the inquiry committee found the allegations credible and recommended his removal. Justice Varma refused to resign, prompting the Chief Justice of India to forward the report to the President and Prime Minister for further action.
Political Consensus and Signature Drive
The government has initiated the process of collecting signatures from Members of Parliament to introduce the motion. BJP and NDA lawmakers have already signed, and efforts are underway to secure support from opposition parties, who have signaled their willingness to back the move in principle.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and other senior leaders have been in talks with opposition figures to ensure a bipartisan approach, given the gravity of the allegations and the need to uphold the judiciary’s integrity.
Impeachment Procedure: How It Works
- Initiation: The motion requires signatures from at least 100 Lok Sabha MPs or 50 Rajya Sabha MPs.
- Introduction: Once signatures are secured, the motion can be introduced in either House.
- Debate and Vote: Passage requires a two-thirds majority of members present and voting in each House.
- Probe Committee: If admitted, the Speaker/Chairman forms a three-member committee: a Supreme Court judge (or the CJI), a Chief Justice of a High Court, and a distinguished jurist.
- Final Decision: If the committee finds the judge guilty, Parliament debates and votes on removal. If passed, the President issues the removal order.
| Step | Requirement/Action |
|---|---|
| Signature Drive | 100 MPs (Lok Sabha) or 50 MPs (Rajya Sabha) |
| Motion Introduction | Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha |
| Debate & Vote | Two-thirds majority in each House |
| Probe Committee | CJI/Supreme Court judge, Chief Justice of a High Court, and a distinguished jurist |
| Final Removal | President issues order if both Houses approve |
Timeline and Next Steps
- Signature collection ongoing; government and opposition working together.
- Monsoon Session (July 21–August 12, 2025): Motion likely to be introduced and debated.
- If passed, probe committee will be set up to investigate the charges in detail.
Broader Implications
This impeachment motion is only the latest in a series of high-profile cases testing judicial accountability in India. Legal experts and political leaders have emphasized the need for robust mechanisms to ensure transparency and trust in the judiciary, while also safeguarding its independence.
