The Process of Judicial Removal: A Case Study of Justice Yashwant Varma
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Indian Polity & Governance (Judiciary - Appointment and Removal of Judges; Parliament; Constitutional Articles 124, 217, 218; The Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968).
Mains: GS Paper 2 (Structure, organization and functioning of the Judiciary; Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these; Separation of powers between various organs).
Key Highlights from the News
Key Action: The Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, accepted a motion to remove Allahabad High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma.
Support for the Motion: The motion submitted to the Speaker was signed by 146 Lok Sabha members.
Inquiry Committee: According to the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, which governs inquiries into allegations against judges, the Speaker formed a three-member inquiry committee.
Committee Members: The committee includes a Supreme Court Judge (Justice Arvind Kumar), a High Court Chief Justice (Madras HC CJ Manindra Mohan Srivastava), and an eminent jurist (Adv. B.V. Acharya).
Background: An in-house inquiry conducted by the Supreme Court found Justice Varma guilty after burnt currency notes were discovered at his official residence.
Constitutional Basis: The proceedings are advancing under Articles 124, 217, and 218 of the Constitution.
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