The Rajya Sabha took up the serious issue of the alleged recovery of a large amount of unaccounted cash from the official residence of Justice Yashwant Varma, a sitting judge of the Delhi High Court. Vice-President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Jagdeep Dhankhar, assured that all necessary procedural steps would be followed to address the matter appropriately.
Jairam Ramesh, a Member of Parliament from the Indian National Congress, raised the issue during the morning session. He described the revelation as "shocking," emphasizing that the nation woke up to alarming news regarding the judiciary.
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Highlighting concerns over judicial accountability, Ramesh reminded the Chairman about a previous impeachment notice. He recalled that in December, 50 members of Parliament had submitted a request for impeachment proceedings against Justice Shekhar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court due to certain remarks he made at an event organized by the legal cell of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Prayagraj.
"You yourself have repeatedly called for judicial accountability. You had, in fact, directed the leader of the house on this issue. Sir, I request you to make some observations and provide necessary directions to the Government to propose a mechanism ensuring judicial accountability," Ramesh stated in the session.
Responding to these concerns, Vice-President Dhankhar acknowledged the receipt of a representation from 55 members regarding the matter. He reassured the House that verification steps were already underway.
"Hon'ble members, I have taken all necessary steps to verify the representation. The first email was sent to all concerned members, and most have responded positively, aiding me in performing my duty. Some members are yet to reply. A follow-up email has been sent to them," Dhankhar explained.
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Expressing his concern over the delay in public awareness of the issue, he remarked:
"What bothers me is that this incident occurred but did not immediately surface. If it had involved a politician, he would have become an instant target. Therefore, a systemic response with transparency, accountability, and effectiveness must be ensured."
Dhankhar further stated that he would engage with both the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition to formulate a structured decision on the matter, subject to their agreement.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has initiated an in-house inquiry into the allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma. As part of the interim measures, the judge has been recommended for transfer to the Allahabad High Court pending further proceedings.
