Parliamentary Action Looms for Allahabad High Court Judge Amidst Cash Controversy

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Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced Sunday, July 20, 2025, that over 100 Members of Parliament (MPs) have signed a notice to initiate an impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court. This significant development, crossing the minimum threshold required to table such a motion in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament), stems from allegations of misconduct following the discovery of burnt cash at the judge’s official residence in March.

The controversy began when a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s Delhi residence while he was on leave. Subsequent to the incident, emergency services reportedly found a substantial amount of burnt or partially burnt currency notes. While Justice Varma has consistently denied any connection to the cash, labeling the incident a conspiracy to frame him, an in-house inquiry committee appointed by then Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjeev Khanna reportedly indicted him. Following this report and Justice Varma’s refusal to resign, CJI Khanna is said to have referred the matter to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recommending the judge’s removal.

The process for impeaching a High Court judge in India is stringent, requiring a motion to be signed by at least 100 Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha or 50 in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House). If admitted by the presiding officer, a three-member inquiry committee is constituted to investigate the charges. Should the committee find the judge guilty, the motion is then debated and voted upon in Parliament, requiring a special majority in both Houses (a majority of the total membership of each House and not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting). If passed by both Houses, the President then issues an order for the judge’s removal.

Kiren Rijiju confirmed that the signature collection is complete, and the motion is likely to be brought in the Lok Sabha during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, which commenced on July 21. He stressed that this move against “corruption in judiciary” has garnered support from various political parties, aiming for a unified stand from Parliament. Meanwhile, Justice Varma has moved the Supreme Court, challenging the in-house inquiry report and its findings, asserting that the process was “unconstitutional, procedurally flawed, and violative of his fundamental rights.”

As Parliament prepares to consider the motion, the nation will observe how this case progresses through the established constitutional mechanisms.