New Delhi, June 8: Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court may face impeachment during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, with officials indicating that resignation is his only viable option to avoid disqualification from post-retirement benefits.
Sources said the government is preparing to bring a motion to remove the judge over alleged corruption linked to a **cash recovery incident** at his Delhi residence earlier this year. If he resigns—either in writing to the President or verbally during proceedings—he will retain pension and benefits. But removal through impeachment would disqualify him from such entitlements.
The incident that triggered the controversy involved a **March fire** at Varma’s official residence, which led to the discovery of **burnt sacks filled with cash**. Though the judge claimed no knowledge of the money, a **Supreme Court-appointed in-house panel** indicted him based on witness testimony and his own statements.
The panel’s findings prompted **then Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna** to urge Varma to resign—a request he refused. Justice Khanna later formally recommended Varma’s removal to the President and Prime Minister.
A motion for impeachment can be introduced in **either House of Parliament**, requiring signatures from **50 Rajya Sabha or 100 Lok Sabha members**. Once admitted, the **Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968** mandates the formation of a three-member inquiry committee including a Supreme Court judge, a high court chief justice, and a distinguished jurist.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister **Kiren Rijiju** acknowledged the uniqueness of this case, noting that an in-house panel has already completed its investigation. The government is considering how to reconcile this with the formal procedures under the Act.
The **Monsoon Session is scheduled from July 21 to August 12**, during which the motion could be brought. This would mark the **first impeachment proceeding** to be taken up in the **new Parliament building**.
Justice Varma, now transferred to the Allahabad High Court, has not been assigned any judicial work. Similar proceedings in the past led to the resignation of Justices **V. Ramaswami** and **Soumitra Sen** before Parliament could act. (Agencies)
