Union Home Minister Amit Shah met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at the latter’s residence in New Delhi to discuss an impeachment motion against Allahabad High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma, according to sources. The motion, initiated following allegations of misconduct after the discovery of unaccounted burnt currency notes at Varma’s Delhi residence in March 2025, has garnered bipartisan support, with 152 Lok Sabha MPs and 63 Rajya Sabha MPs submitting notices under Articles 124, 217, and 218 of the Indian Constitution. This article examines the context of the meeting, the allegations against Justice Varma, the impeachment process, the political dynamics, including Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation, and the broader implications for judicial accountability in India.
Context of the Meeting
The meeting between Amit Shah and Speaker Om Birla occurred amid preparations for the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which began on July 21, 2025. The agenda centered on the impeachment motion against Justice Varma, who faces allegations of corruption following the discovery of charred ₹500 currency notes at his official residence at 30 Tughlak Crescent, New Delhi, on March 14, 2025. Key details of the meeting include:
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Timing and Location: The closed-door meeting took place on July 22, 2025, evening at Birla’s residence, following earlier discussions with senior ministers, including the Law Minister and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, on July 21 at the Parliament complex.
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Purpose: Sources indicate the discussion focused on coordinating the impeachment process, with both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha moving to admit motions for Varma’s removal.
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Bipartisan Support: The motion has support from MPs across party lines, including BJP, Congress, TDP, JD(U), CPI(M), and others, with notable signatories like Rahul Gandhi, Anurag Thakur, Supriya Sule, and Ravi Shankar Prasad.
The impeachment motion follows a Supreme Court-appointed inquiry panel’s findings, which indicted Varma for misconduct, prompting then-Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna to recommend his removal to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 8, 2025.
Allegations Against Justice Varma
The controversy erupted on March 14, 2025, when a fire at Justice Varma’s official residence led to the discovery of “four to five sacks” of half-burnt ₹500 notes in a storeroom. Key points include:
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Incident Details: Firefighters and Delhi Police, responding around 11:35 PM, found the burnt currency, with videos and photos corroborating eyewitness accounts from 10 officials, including fire service personnel.
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Inquiry Findings: A three-member panel, appointed by then-CJI Sanjiv Khanna and comprising Justices Sheel Nagu, G.S. Sandhawalia, and Anu Sivaraman, concluded that Varma and his family had “covert or active control” over the storeroom. The 64-page report, submitted on May 4, 2025, found Varma’s defense—claiming ignorance and alleging a conspiracy—unconvincing, citing his failure to file a police complaint or explain the cash’s source.
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Transfer and Response: Varma, then a Delhi High Court judge, was transferred to the Allahabad High Court on March 20, 2025, and took oath on April 5 but has not been assigned judicial work. He has challenged the panel’s findings in the Supreme Court, alleging procedural flaws and violations of his rights, arguing that the inquiry lacked jurisdiction and denied him a fair defense.
Varma’s refusal to resign, despite CJI Khanna’s nudge, escalated the matter to Parliament, marking a rare instance of impeachment proceedings against a sitting High Court judge.
Impeachment Process and Parliamentary Actions
The impeachment of a High Court judge is governed by Articles 124(4), 217, and 218 of the Constitution and the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. Key steps include:
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Motion Requirements: A motion requires signatures from at least 100 Lok Sabha MPs or 50 Rajya Sabha MPs. On July 21, 2025, 152 Lok Sabha MPs and 63 Rajya Sabha MPs submitted notices to Speaker Om Birla and then-Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, respectively, meeting these thresholds.
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Inquiry Committee: Typically, the Speaker or Rajya Sabha Chairman constitutes a three-member panel (a Supreme Court judge, a High Court Chief Justice, and a jurist) to investigate. However, opposition leaders and some government sources argue that a prior Supreme Court panel’s report negates the need for a new committee, though this has sparked debate over adherence to the 1968 Act.
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Next Steps: Both Houses are expected to jointly form an inquiry panel, with Birla likely to announce its formation on July 23, 2025. The panel’s report, due within three months, will inform Parliament’s final vote, requiring a two-thirds majority in both Houses to address the President for Varma’s removal.
The bipartisan support, with Congress and INDIA bloc MPs joining NDA allies, reflects a unified stance against judicial corruption, as emphasized by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, who called it a “sensitive and serious matter.”
Political Dynamics and Dhankhar’s Resignation
The impeachment motion coincided with a surprising political development: Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation on July 21, 2025, citing “poor health.” The timing, hours after he announced receiving the opposition’s notice against Varma, raised speculation:
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Opposition Claims: Congress MPs suggested Dhankhar’s resignation was not voluntary, alleging BJP pressure due to his acceptance of the opposition’s motion, which some BJP sources found “unexpected” and “confusing.”
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Government Perspective: Government sources denied coercion, but the rapid sequence of events—Shah’s meetings with Modi, Nadda, and Birla, followed by Dhankhar’s exit—fueled theories of political maneuvering.
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Impact on Process: Dhankhar’s resignation may delay Rajya Sabha proceedings, but the Lok Sabha motion, backed by 152 MPs, remains on track, with Birla yet to formally announce its admission.
The controversy has also drawn attention to a separate motion against another judge, mentioned by Dhankhar, though the government appears less focused on this case.
Broader Implications
The impeachment motion has significant ramifications:
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Judicial Integrity: The case has sparked widespread debate about corruption in the judiciary, with social media posts reflecting public concern over the “cash row” and its impact on judicial trust.
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Legal Precedent: If successful, Varma’s impeachment would be the first for a High Court judge in independent India, setting a historic benchmark for accountability.
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Political Unity: The bipartisan support signals a rare consensus on addressing judicial misconduct, though debates over procedure (e.g., bypassing a new inquiry committee) raise concerns about constitutional adherence.
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Public Perception: The discovery of unaccounted cash has fueled public outrage, with social media users calling for transparency and stricter anti-corruption measures in the judiciary.
Challenges
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Procedural Concerns: Varma’s Supreme Court plea argues the inquiry violated his rights, and bypassing a new committee under the 1968 Act could invite further litigation, delaying the process.
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Political Tensions: Dhankhar’s resignation and allegations of government pressure highlight underlying frictions, potentially complicating bipartisan cooperation.
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Evidence Gaps: Varma’s claim that the cash was not seized and was removed by unknown persons raises questions about the inquiry’s evidence, though the panel’s 55 witnesses and electronic proof bolster its findings.
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Public Trust: Ongoing judicial scandals, including this case, risk eroding confidence in the judiciary, a concern echoed on social media.
Path Forward
To navigate this complex issue:
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Adhere to Procedure: Ensure the impeachment process follows the Judges (Inquiry) Act, forming a new committee if required to avoid legal challenges.
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Transparency: Share the inquiry report with MPs to enable informed decision-making, addressing concerns raised by legal experts.
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Judicial Reforms: Strengthen mechanisms for judicial accountability, such as regular asset disclosures, to prevent similar incidents.
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Public Communication: Engage with the public to clarify the impeachment process, countering misinformation and rebuilding trust.
Amit Shah’s meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on July 22, 2025, marks a critical step in the impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma, driven by allegations of misconduct following the discovery of unaccounted burnt cash at his residence. With 152 Lok Sabha and 63 Rajya Sabha MPs backing the motion, and bipartisan support from major parties, the process reflects a unified stand against judicial corruption. However, Varma’s Supreme Court challenge, Dhankhar’s abrupt resignation, and procedural debates pose challenges. If successful, this would be a historic impeachment, reinforcing judicial accountability but also highlighting the need for robust, transparent processes to maintain public trust in India’s judiciary.
