The meeting is scheduled for 11:30 AM and will include BJP leader and Leader of the House, JP Nadda, along with Congress leader and Leader of Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge.
New Delhi, March 24: Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar has called a crucial meeting on Monday to discuss judicial accountability. This comes after concerns were raised over a large amount of cash allegedly found at the residence of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma.
The meeting is scheduled for 11:30 AM and will include BJP leader and Leader of the House, JP Nadda, along with Congress leader and Leader of Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge. The agenda is to address constitutional and legislative concerns highlighted by Dhankhar in response to issues raised by Congress MP Jairam Ramesh.
On March 21, Vice President Dhankhar spoke in Rajya Sabha about the importance of following the due process for constitutional amendments. He emphasized that any changes to the Constitution must first be passed by Parliament, then approved by 50% of state legislatures, and finally receive the President’s assent under Article 111.
“….The Leader of the House is not here. I had to reflect in a very focused manner that what appears in the Indian Constitution has to emanate first from our founding fathers and then any change affected whatsoever has to be sanctified by the Parliament and in some cases by 50 per cent of the state legislatures and then finally it gets constitutional sanction with the Hon’ble President signing it under article 111 and therefore I had pleaded with the leader of the house that the House needs to know that Constitution which according to this directive holds the field today,” Dhankhar stated in Parliament.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh had previously raised concerns over cash allegedly recovered from Justice Yashwant Varma’s residence. He urged the House to discuss judicial accountability and also reminded the Chair about a pending impeachment notice against an Allahabad High Court judge.
Dhankhar recalled historic legislation that was passed with widespread support in Parliament and later endorsed by 16 state assemblies. He questioned the current status of that law, emphasizing the need to address corruption in the judiciary.
“You all will recollect if the mechanism which was passed by this house with near unanimity, with no dissension, only one abstention in Rajya Sabha, all political parties converging, going in for the initiative of the government. I wish to find out the status of that which emanated from the Indian Parliament made sacrosanct by the endorsement of 16 state assemblies in the country and signed by the President under Article 111 of the Constitution,” he said.
He further noted the importance of tackling corruption in the judiciary.
“That historic legislation endorsed by this Parliament with unprecedented consensual support unknown to the parliamentary history of this country dealt with the malaise very severely. If the malaise had been dealt with perhaps we would not have countenanced such kind of issues. What bothers me is that the incident happened and did not immediately surface,”
he added.
Meanwhile, Congress MPs Manickam Tagore and Renuka Chowdhury have submitted Adjournment Motion notices in Parliament, urging a discussion on the allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma. They called on the government to provide clarity and assurances on the issue.
Their notice stated, “It is essential that this issue is thoroughly discussed and the truth is laid bare for the people of India.”
The controversy began after a fire broke out at Justice Yashwant Varma’s residence on March 14. Firefighters who responded to the incident reportedly found a large amount of cash. At the time, the judge was not present at home.
Reacting to the allegations, Dhankhar emphasized the need for a fair and transparent investigation.
“If it happens with a politician, he becomes a target, a bureaucrat, an industrialist immediately and therefore systemic response which is transparent, accountable, effective, I am sure will be on the way. I will get in touch with the Leader of the House, and the Leader of the Opposition and find a mechanism for a structured discussion during the session subject to their agreement,” he stated.
Sanitation workers later reported finding burnt currency notes near Justice Varma’s official residence, further fueling suspicions.
Supreme Court Forms Inquiry Committee
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna has constituted a three-member inquiry committee to investigate the allegations. The committee includes:
- Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Sheel Nagu
- Himachal Pradesh Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia
- Karnataka High Court Judge, Justice Anu Sivaraman
The Supreme Court has also released an inquiry report by Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay. His report states that the matter requires a deeper investigation.
Justice Yashwant Varma has strongly denied the allegations, calling them a conspiracy to frame and defame him.
“No cash was ever placed in that storeroom either by me or any of my family members,” he stated.
He added that the room where cash was allegedly found was an outhouse, separate from the main building where he and his family reside.
In response, Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay has directed Justice Varma to preserve all communication on his phone, including messages and call records, as investigations continue.
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