New Delhi: Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju has reached out to Opposition parties, including the Congress’ to bring an impeachment motion against Justice Varma in the upcoming monsoon session of the Parliament. The step is being considered over allegations of a cash haul from his Delhi residence in March.
“I have begun the process of reaching out to the opposition parties. I have told them that this is not a political issue, but an important issue related to corruption in the judiciary and therefore, all the parties should be united in addressing this concern,” Hindustan Times quoted him as saying.
Govt looking to reach out to Opposition parties
Speaking to the paper, a senior party official said that the government is looking to reach out to the Opposition parties to support the motion against the judge, which will need two-thirds majority. According to the official, the motion is set to be moved by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal in both Houses of Parliament.
The development comes days after former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna wrote a letter to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging for the initiation of the process for the removal of justice Varma, In his letter the ex-CJI noted that the allegations of recovery of cash at the judge’s residence was serious matter.
Earlier on May 5, an in-house enquiry panel submitted its report to the CJI. In its report, the panel confirmed that the cash was found at Justice Varma’s residence , who was then a Delhi High Court judge. The cash was kept in a storeroom where a fire broke out on March 14, after which half-burnt currency notes were found stacked inside in a sack. The police had even recorded a video of the cash.
