Parliament Erupts Over Cash Found At Delhi HC Judge’s Residence; Calls For Judicial Accountability Intensify

Yashwant Varma

The issue relating to the alleged recovery of large pile of unaccounted cash from the official residence of Justice Yashwant Varma, sitting judge of the Delhi High Court, was discussed by the Rajya Sabha today.

Vice-President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Jagdeep Dhankhar responded that he will take all procedural steps as required to address this issue.

Congress Rises Concern

Jairam Ramesh, Indian National Congress Member of Parliament from Karnataka, raised the issue before the Dhankhar in the morning session. He pointed out that the nation today woke to the “shocking case” of huge amounts of cash unearthed at the residence of a Delhi High Court judge.

In this context, he reminded the Chairman of a notice of impeachment sent by 50 members of the Parliament to the Chairman, last December, against certain remarks made by Justice Shekhar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court at an event organised by the legal cell of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Prayagraj.

Ramesh requested the Chairman to take it up with the Government to take steps to ensure judicial accountability in the appointment of the judges.

Judicial Accountability

You yourself have repeatedly called into question the urgency for judicial accountability. You had, in fact, directed the leader of the house on this issue. Sir, I request you to make some observations on this issue and give necessary directions to the Government to come up with a proposal for increasing judicial accountability,” Ramesh told the Chairman.

Case Background

To this, the Chairman responded: “Hon’ble members, I am seized of a representation by 55 members of this House and I have taken all necessary steps to get their verification. First email was sent to all of them. Good thing is, most of the members have responded positively helping me perform my duty. Some members are yet to do. A email reiterating the same has been sent to them. I have taken all procedural steps…those members who have not done so far may responded to the second email sent to them then the process will not be delayed at my level even for a moment.”

what bothers me is that the incident happened and did not immediately surface. If it happens with a politician, he becomes a target..and therefore, a systemic response with transparent, accountable and effective [mechanism], I am sure, will be on the way. I will get in touch with the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition and find a mechanism for a structured decision during course of the session subject to their agreement.”

The court has initiated an in-house enquiry procedure against Justice Yashwant Verma. Pending the enquiry, the Judge has been recommended to be transferred to the Allahabad High Court.