New Delhi: In connection with the cash-for-favour case, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday approved an impeachment motion against Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Verma. The Speaker stated, “I have received the proposal signed by 146 members, including Ravi Shankar Prasad and the Leader of the Opposition.”
The motion seeks the removal of Justice Verma from office. Announcing the formation of a three-member inquiry committee, Birla said it will comprise one judge from the Supreme Court, one from the High Court, and one eminent jurist. The impeachment motion will remain pending until the committee submits its report.
Serious Allegations, Indication of Corruption
“We have studied the provisions of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, along with relevant Supreme Court judgments and other rulings,” the Speaker noted. “The Supreme Court found the complaint to be of a serious nature. The in-house procedure was followed, and after considering the responses of Justice Verma and the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, the Chief Justice of India recommended a detailed investigation.”
Birla recalled that the then CJI had forwarded the report to the Prime Minister and the President, affirming that due process had been followed. The committee’s findings indicated allegations warranting removal proceedings against Justice Verma.
“Following an independent inquiry, it was concluded that proceedings for the removal of a judge under Article 124 of the Constitution should be initiated. An unblemished character is the foundation of public trust in the judiciary. In this case, the facts point towards corruption and necessitate action,” the Speaker said.
Composition of the Inquiry Committee
Acting under Article 124, Birla approved the motion to remove Justice Verma and constituted a committee to investigate the charges. The panel includes Justice Aravind Kumar of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava of the Madras High Court, and senior advocate B.V. Acharya of the Karnataka High Court.
