Senior Advocate Dr. Adish C. Aggarwala, who serves as the Chairman of the All India Bar Association and is a former President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, has issued a statement on Tuesday addressing the recent controversy involving the alleged burning of currency notes at the outhouse of Justice Yashwant Verma.
Demand For An Independent Investigation
Dr. Aggarwala expressed strong confidence that the Supreme Court’s three-judge In-House Committee will recommend forwarding the case to either the Delhi Police or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a more comprehensive probe.
“The In-House Committee, while capable of handling certain internal matters, lacks the jurisdiction and resources to investigate the criminal dimensions of this case,” Dr. Aggarwala remarked. He stressed that the committee is not equipped to trace the origin of the currency notes or determine how they ended up in Justice Verma’s outhouse.
Challenges Faced By In-House Committee
Highlighting the committee’s limitations, Dr. Aggarwala pointed out that it does not possess the authority to record witness statements under Sections 180 BNSS and 183 BNSS, key provisions for criminal investigations. This significantly hampers the Committee’s ability to conduct an in-depth inquiry.
“The committee cannot deliver a definitive conclusion regarding the criminal intent or the source of the money,” he added. Dr. Aggarwala also noted that members of the Committee may be reluctant to serve as witnesses in any future criminal proceedings, which could pose further obstacles to the investigation.
Allahabad High Court Bar Association Suspends Strike
In a related move, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA), which has been protesting the transfer of Justice Yashwant Verma to the Allahabad High Court, has temporarily called off its strike. This decision comes as the HCBA awaits the findings of the in-house inquiry into the judge’s conduct.
The association passed a resolution agreeing to suspend the protest until the three-judge inquiry committee concludes its investigation concerning Justice Verma and the unaccounted cash discovered at his residence by firefighters on March 14.
The case has sparked intense debate within the legal community, raising important questions about judicial accountability and the need for transparent investigations. Dr. Aggarwala’s call for an independent probe reflects a broader demand for justice and integrity within the judiciary.
As the inquiry unfolds, the public and legal professionals alike await decisive actions to ensure accountability and uphold the principles of justice.
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