The government is moving forward with a motion to oust Allahabad High Court judge Yashwant Varma, with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju stating that prominent opposition parties have, in principle, agreed to support the move. Rijiju mentioned that the process of collecting signatures from Members of Parliament (MPs) is expected to commence soon. The government is still deciding whether to bring the motion in the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha.
To initiate the motion, a minimum of 100 MPs' signatures are required in the Lok Sabha, while the Rajya Sabha requires the support of at least 50 MPs. Rijiju stated that the signatures would be collected after the government decides which house to bring the motion to.
The Judges (Inquiry) Act of 1968 outlines the procedure following the admission of a motion to remove a judge in either house. The speaker or chairman of the house will form a three-member committee to investigate the grounds for removal. This committee consists of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) or a Supreme Court judge, the chief justice of one of the 25 high courts, and a "distinguished jurist".
Rijiju stated that the government aims for all political parties to be on board due to the matter involving corruption within the judiciary. He emphasized the importance of consensus and a unified stance on matters related to the judiciary, aiming to keep it beyond partisan lines.
The move to initiate a motion to remove Justice Varma follows a fire incident at his residence in Delhi during his time as a judge at the Delhi High Court, which led to the discovery of burnt banknotes. While an in-house committee investigated the incident, Rijiju clarified that the committee's report did not indict Justice Varma but rather recommended future actions. He noted that the authority to remove a judge rests solely with the Parliament.
The Monsoon session of Parliament is scheduled to commence on July 21 and conclude on August 21. Even if the motion is introduced during this session, it's unlikely to be resolved within the session's duration.
