Withdrawal of Justice Varma from Judicial Duties; MPs Demand Discussion
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Synopsis
The Delhi High Court has removed Justice Yashwant Varma from judicial duties following allegations of cash recovery at his home. This has sparked controversy, leading two Congress MPs to seek discussions in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha on judicial integrity and accountability.
Key Takeaways
- Justice Yashwant Varma withdrawn from judicial duties.
- Investigation into cash recovery at his residence initiated.
- Congress MPs demand urgent discussion in Parliament.
- Concerns raised about judicial integrity and public trust.
- Supreme Court orders probe into the incident.
New Delhi, March 24 (NationPress) The Delhi High Court has officially updated its Roster for judges, resulting in Justice Yashwant Varma being relieved from his judicial responsibilities. This change follows a directive from Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, who has formed a three-member panel to look into the alleged discovery of cash at Justice Varma's residence. In response to this controversy, two Congress MPs submitted Adjournment Motion notices in both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, calling for an urgent discussion on the issue.
A circular from the Registrar of the High Court issued on Monday stated, “Given the recent developments, Justice Yashwant Varma has been taken off judicial duties with immediate effect until further notice.”
The communication added, “The Court Master assigned to Hon'ble DB-III will provide dates for cases listed before the Hon'ble DB-III today,” as posted on the Delhi High Court website.
The roster indicates that the Division Bench led by Justice Varma, which included Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar, was responsible for cases related to sales tax, GST, Letters Patent Appeals, regular First Appeals (Original Side), Company Appeals, and matters to be heard by the Commercial Appellate Division.
Justice Varma is notably the second senior-most judge at the Delhi High Court, focusing on writ petitions that challenge the constitutional validity of laws, statutory rules, regulations, or notifications regarding municipal tax.
In related news, two Congress MPs, Renuka Chowdhury from the Rajya Sabha and Manickam Tagore B from the Lok Sabha, filed Adjournment Motion notices addressing the ‘cash at judge’s home’ issue, urging for immediate deliberation on this significant topic.
Under Rule 267 of the Procedure and Conduct of Business, Chowdhury expressed that the “disclosure raises serious questions about judicial integrity and transparency, which are vital for public confidence.”
She emphasized, “The nation deserves to know why such a substantial amount of money was located at a judge’s home.”
Chowdhury further stated, “Despite the Supreme Court ordering an investigation, there’s an urgent necessity to address judicial reforms and accountability in this context.”
Tagore added in his notice, “The circumstances surrounding this discovery are deeply questionable and necessitate immediate discussion.”
“In light of the serious ramifications for public trust in the judiciary, the government must clarify and assure the public regarding this matter. It is crucial that this issue is thoroughly examined, and the truth revealed for the citizens of India,” the MP emphasized.
On Sunday, the probe committee appointed by the CJI, along with other investigators, visited the residence of Delhi's Chief Fire Officer Atul Garg to gather information regarding the events of March 14, when burnt Rs 500 currency notes were found during a firefighting effort at the outhouse of Justice Varma’s bungalow on Tughlak Road in Central Delhi.
In addition, a petition has been submitted to the Supreme Court requesting that the Delhi Police register an FIR to facilitate an effective investigation into the claims that a significant amount of burnt cash was discovered at Justice Varma's outhouse.
The petition, initiated by advocate Mathews Nedumpara, questioned the delay in filing an FIR on March 14, stating that the authorities' procrastination in providing electronic records to the public raises concerns about a potential cover-up.
Previously, Justice Varma refuted any allegations of misconduct, informing the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court that the images showing burnt cash piles at his damaged outhouse seemed to be “a conspiracy to frame and tarnish” his reputation.
“I was completely taken aback by the video’s content, which depicted something not found at the site as I had observed. This prompted me to conclude that this appeared to be a conspiracy to frame and defame me,” Justice Varma stated in his written response.
