Oppo raises concerns in LS over cash recovery at Justice Varma’s residence

Opposition lawmakers on Thursday raised concerns in Lok Sabha over the recovery of cash at high court judge Yashwant Varma’s official residence in Delhi and demanded Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal’s statement over it and greater judicial accountability.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) lawmaker Kalyan Banerjee said that recovery has eroded public confidence in the judiciary and questioned why corruption allegations against judges were not automatically investigated. “Why will no investigation commence if a complaint of corruption is made against a judge, irrespective of whether the Chief Justice of India (CJI) grants permission?”

Banerjee said an independent anti-corruption body, such as the Lokpal, should handle the probe instead of relying solely on internal judicial mechanisms. Banerjee criticised Justice Varma’s transfer to the Allahabad high court. He added that the courts such as Allahabad and Calcutta high courts were treated as “dumping grounds” for controversial judges.

Congress lawmaker Manish Tewari echoed Banerjee’s concerns and asked Parliament to exercise oversight over the judiciary. He noted the CJI initiated an in-house inquiry and asked Meghwal to present a detailed timeline of events. “Nobody is saying that anyone is innocent or guilty, or apportioning guilt. Under the Constitution and Judges Inquiry Act, Parliament has the responsibility to exercise superintendence...we are abdicating our responsibility,” he said.

Bharatiya Janata Party member Praveen Patel expressed concern over the implications of the case. He emphasised that public faith in the judiciary must remain intact. Patel acknowledged the growing dissatisfaction among bar associations and stressed the need for transparency in handling allegations against judges. “The judiciary is a crucial pillar of the Constitution and people have unwavering faith in it. When such faith is damaged, people express their disappointment.”