Over 100 MPs have signed notice to bring motion against Justice Varma in Parliament: Rijiju

A motion for the removal of a judge has to be signed by not less than 100 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 50 in the Rajya Sabha. The motion is likely to be brought in the Lower House.

New Delhi: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday said signatures for an impeachment notice against Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma have crossed 100, the number of MPs' endorsements needed to move the motion.

For a notice to be admitted for impeaching a judge, the signatures of 100 MPs is needed to move it in Lok Sabha and 50 MPs in Rajya Sabha.

After an all-party meeting ahead of Parliament's Monsoon Session, Rijiju said the process of collecting signatures of MPs is underway and it has crossed 100 already. Sources indicated that the motion against Justice Varma would be brought in Lok Sabha.

It is for the Business Advisory Committee of the respective House where the notice is submitted to decide when the motion will be moved, Rijiju said.

"I cannot comment on any business in terms of priority because until the matter is passed by the BAC with the Chair's approval, it is difficult for me to make an announcement outside," Rijiju said when asked about the timeline for bringing it in Parliament.

Burnt currency notes were discovered at the outhouse of Justice Varma, when he was in Delhi High Court, by the fire brigade following a fire incident in March. A committee appointed by then Chief Justice of India Sanjeev Khanna had indicted him.

Justice Varma, who was transferred to Allahabad High Court after the incident, has approached the Supreme Court against the committee's findings.

Rijiju had earlier said that all parties are in support of impeaching the judge.

However, the Opposition parties are also raising the issue of pending impeachment notice against Allahabad High Court judge Justice Shekhar Yadav for his communal remarks.

At the all-party meeting on Sunday, Muslim League's Haris Beeran and CPI Rajya Sabha floor leader P Sandosh Kumar raised the issue of pending notice against Shekhar Yadav.

Sandosh Kumar called for immediate action on a pending impeachment notice against Justice Shekhar Yadav for his “blatantly communal remarks”. Beeran said there is “clear evidence” against Justice Yadav but the notice is pending for the past over six months.

In controversial comments on December 9 last year at a VHP function, Justice Yadav had said, “did you imagine seeing the Ram Mandir with your own eyes? But you did see it. Many of our ancestors made sacrifices for it, in the hope of seeing Ram Lalla freed and witnessing the construction of a grand temple. They couldn't see it but did their part and now we are witnessing it.”

“The country would soon get a UCC. That day is not very far. India should function according to the wishes of the majority. This is the law. You can't say that I am saying this being a high court judge. The law works according to the majority. Be it in the context of the family or society. Only what benefits the welfare and happiness of the majority will be accepted,” he said.