Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday stated that he is working toward building consensus among all political parties regarding the impeachment motion against High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma. Speaking to national media, Rijiju emphasised that the matter involves serious allegations of corruption within the judiciary and should not be politicised.
“The impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma concerns corruption in the judiciary. Therefore, there is absolutely no room for any political maneuvering. This issue is far too serious for parties to adopt separate political stances,” Rijiju said. “We want to approach this collectively. Parliament, as an institution, must act with unity in addressing the matter and moving forward. I have begun consultations with senior leaders from various parties and will continue reaching out to everyone.”
The minister reported that the initial feedback from political leaders has been 'very positive.' He reiterated the importance of maintaining a non-partisan approach in dealing with judicial corruption. “When it comes to tackling corruption—whether in the judiciary or elsewhere—it must be addressed with the utmost regard for the national interest. This is not the time for political divisions,” he added.
The impeachment motion stems from serious allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma, related to the discovery of allegedly burnt currency notes in a storeroom at his official residence during his tenure as a Judge of the Delhi High Court. Following these revelations, the Supreme Court established an in-house inquiry committee to investigate the matter.
The inquiry committee concluded its investigation and submitted its report last month. The findings were subsequently forwarded to the Prime Minister and the President of India for further action. The report, dated May 3, was handed over to the then Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna.
Also Read: National Herald case: Haryana Cong holds protest against BJP
This three-member committee comprised Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court; Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court; and Justice Anu Sivaraman, Judge of the Karnataka High Court. The committee had been constituted by the Chief Justice of India on March 22 to thoroughly examine the allegations against Justice Varma.
Despite the controversy surrounding the inquiry, Justice Yashwant Varma was sworn in as a judge of the Allahabad High Court on April 5, under what have been described as unusual and contentious circumstances.
In a separate development earlier the same day, Minister Rijiju announced that the Monsoon Session of Parliament will begin on July 21 and continue until August 12. Both Houses—the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha—are scheduled to convene at 11:00 AM on July 21, marking the first session in over three months.
This session will also be the first to take place following the launch of Operation Sindoor on May 7. The operation was initiated by India in the aftermath of a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which tragically claimed 26 lives. The incident has heightened national security concerns and triggered widespread demands for parliamentary debate.
In light of these events, Opposition leaders have called for a special session of Parliament. They are urging a comprehensive discussion on key national issues, particularly the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. All-party delegations have also pressed for the government to provide clarity and take strong action in response to the attack.
Also Read: RaGa to meet 'divided' Haryana Congress in Chandigarh today
Follow us
