MP Jairam Ramesh Today (Mar 21) raised concerns in Rajya Sabha over large cash recovery from a Delhi HC judge’s residence. He urged the government to act swiftly on judicial accountability.
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NEW DELHI: In Rajya Sabha, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh spoke about a very serious and shocking issue that is linked to the Indian judiciary system. He raised concern over two recent incidents that point towards the urgent need for judicial accountability in the country.
He said that early this morning, there was news about a major case in which a very large amount of cash was found in the house of a judge- Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court.
This news has surprised and shocked many people across the country.
According to him,
“This morning, we read about a shocking case of huge amounts of cash unearthed at the residence of a Delhi High Court judge.”
This kind of news has created many doubts in the minds of common people about the honesty and transparency of the judiciary. Jairam Ramesh also mentioned that this was not the only worrying matter. He said that before this, fifty Members of Parliament had already submitted a notice to the Speaker regarding some comments made by a judge from the Allahabad High Court.
The remarks made by the Allahabad judge were serious enough that many MPs thought it was necessary to bring it to the attention of the Rajya Sabha. In his words,
“Earlier, 50 members of Parliament submitted a notice to you regarding certain remarks made by an Allahabad High Court judge.”
In the Rajya Sabha, Jairam Ramesh reminded everyone that this is not the first time such matters have come up. He also pointed out that the Speaker himself has often spoken about the need for better judicial accountability.
In fact, he mentioned that the Speaker had earlier even directed the Leader of the House to look into the matter. He highlighted this point again during his speech by saying,
“You have repeatedly called into question the urgency for judicial accountability.”
This means that the top leadership in Parliament is already aware that something must be done to make the judiciary more transparent and answerable to the people of India. Jairam Ramesh strongly requested the Speaker to take this matter seriously and guide the government in the right direction.
He wants the government to bring a proper plan or proposal which will make sure that judges in India follow rules, stay honest, and are answerable for their actions.
He made this request clearly when he said,
“In fact, you directed the Leader of the House on this issue.”
Then he concluded his request by saying,
“I request that you make some observations on this and give necessary directions to the government to come up with a proposal for increasing judicial accountability.”
This long-standing topic of judicial reform in India has once again come into the spotlight because of these latest developments. When a judge’s house has cash hidden in it, and when High Court judges make controversial remarks, it directly affects people’s faith in the judicial system.
MP Jairam Ramesh’s remarks in the Rajya Sabha are a call to action. His speech shows how urgent it is for the Indian Parliament and Government to make new laws or reforms to ensure clean and transparent functioning of the judiciary.
Many legal experts, political leaders, and citizens believe that judicial accountability must be improved without affecting the independence of the judiciary. People are asking how such incidents happen and why there is no strong system to check them.
With increasing awareness and digital reporting, people are watching every move, and now more than ever, the Indian judicial system must set an example of integrity and trust.
Jairam Ramesh, through his clear and strong speech in the Rajya Sabha, has echoed what many people feel across the country. There is a serious need for checks and balances in the judiciary. His exact words and his tone show the seriousness of the matter.
As the Rajya Sabha listens to these issues and more MPs raise their voices, it is expected that the Government will take some positive steps soon.
Kapil Sibal Slams Judicial Corruption On Justice Varma’s Transfer By CJI
The Supreme Court Collegium recommended the transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma from the Delhi High Court to his parent High Court in Allahabad.
This decision came after a negative report was received against him. The matter has become important and serious, and many people are now talking about it.
Kapil Sibal, a senior advocate and also a Rajya Sabha MP, has spoken strongly on this topic. He said that corruption in the Indian judicial system is a matter of great concern and should not be taken lightly. In his words-
“The issue of corruption within the judiciary is a very serious issue.”
He also shared that this is not a new problem. Many senior lawyers and legal experts have been talking about this for a long time.
He pointed out-
“This is not something that has been articulated by senior councils and lawyers in the country for the first time. It has been going on for years.”
Sibal believes that now is the right time for the Supreme Court to seriously think about how judges are appointed in the country. According to him, the system of appointing judges should be made more clear and fair.
He said-
“It is time for the Supreme Court to start looking at issues of how the appointment process takes place. The appointment process should be more transparent and carefully done.”
He also criticised the current situation of corruption and disagreed with Prime Minister Modi’s views. Sibal claimed that instead of going down, corruption has actually grown.
As he said-
“Corruption is a very serious issue and despite what PM Modi has said the corruption has increased.”
This whole matter has now started a big discussion in legal and political circles. Many are demanding more transparency in the system and stricter steps to fight corruption in the judiciary. The public also wants to know more about how judges are selected and how the judicial system works behind closed doors.
As this situation develops, all eyes will be on how the Supreme Court and the Government respond to these serious concerns. People are hoping for a system where justice is fair, transparent, and free from corruption.
BACKGROUND
The Supreme Court Collegium decided to transfer Justice Yashwant Verma from the Delhi High Court back to his parent High Court Allahabad. Sources informed that this decision came after a significant amount of unaccounted cash was found in his official bungalow last week during the Holi holidays.
The cash discovered following a fire in the building, which prompted family members of the judge who was out of the city at the time to call emergency services, leading to police involvement.
Upon learning of the situation through official channels, the Collegium, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, opted to transfer Justice Verma.
Also Read: SC Collegium Recommends Two Judicial Officers For Appointment as Patna High Court Judges
Indira Jaising is a senior Indian lawyer and human rights activist known for her work in constitutional law, women’s rights, and judicial accountability remarked,
“A retired Sessions Court judge who convicted Sanjeev Bhatt is now being considered for a High Court appointment. Meanwhile, a High Court judge is found with a ‘pile of cash’ in his burning house. Have we lost the independence of the judiciary?”
As of now, Justice Verma has not commented on the cash discovery. Sources indicated that the Chief Justice viewed the situation very seriously, and the five-member Collegium agreed unanimously on the decision to transfer Justice Verma.
However, sources indicated that some members of the Collegium believed stricter measures were necessary to protect the judiciary’s reputation, which could significantly impact its ability to deliver justice to the public.
There was discussion about potentially asking Justice Verma to resign.
If he were to decline, some members suggested that the Chief Justice could initiate an internal inquiry, which would be the first step toward possible removal by Parliament.
In 1999, the Supreme Court established guidelines for addressing allegations of corruption, misconduct, and judicial irregularities involving judges of the Constitutional Court.
According to these guidelines, upon receiving a complaint, the Chief Justice first seeks a response from the judge in question. If the Chief Justice is not satisfied with the reply or believes further investigation is warranted, he will form an internal committee.
This committee is composed of one Supreme Court judge and two High Court Chief Justices. Once the committee submits its report, if the Chief Justice determines that the alleged misconduct is serious enough to warrant removal, he will request the judge to resign. Should the judge refuse, the Chief Justice will then notify the government to initiate removal proceedings through Parliament, as stipulated in Article 124(4) of the Constitution.
Article 124(4) of the Indian Constitution deals with the procedure for the removal of a Supreme Court judge. It states that:
- A Supreme Court judge can be removed only by an order of the President.
- The removal must be based on proved misbehavior or incapacity.
- This order must be passed after an address by Parliament, supported by a special majority (a majority of the total membership of each House and a two-thirds majority of members present and voting).
This provision ensures judicial independence by making it difficult to remove judges without strong and justified reasons.
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