The Rajya Sabha on Friday witnessed heated discussions over the alleged recovery of a massive amount of cash from the residence of a sitting judge of the Delhi High Court, Justice Yashwant Varma. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar assured the House that a structured discussion mechanism would be established to address the concerns surrounding judicial accountability.

Judicial Accountability in Spotlight

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh raised the issue in the morning session, expressing shock over the revelations and reminding the Chair about a pending impeachment notice against a judge of the Allahabad High Court.

“This morning, we have read about a shocking case of huge amounts of cash unearthed at the residence of a judge of the Delhi High Court,” Ramesh stated, while also pointing out that 50 MPs had previously submitted a notice regarding controversial remarks by an Allahabad High Court judge.

Highlighting the need for judicial accountability, Ramesh urged the Chairman to direct the government to introduce necessary measures.

Chairman’s Response on Judicial Scandal

Chairman Dhankhar acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and noted that such an incident would have immediately put a politician, bureaucrat, or industrialist under public scrutiny. He stressed the need for a transparent and accountable systemic response.

“What bothers me is that this incident happened but did not come to light immediately. If it was a politician or bureaucrat, they would have been targeted instantly,” Dhankhar remarked.

The Chairman assured that discussions would be held with the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition to find a structured mechanism for deliberations in the ongoing session.

Supreme Court Collegium’s Decision

Reports suggest that the Supreme Court Collegium has decided to transfer Justice Yashwant Varma from the Delhi High Court to his parent Allahabad High Court following allegations of cash recovery from his residence. The judge did not hold court on Friday, adding to the speculations surrounding the case.

Impeachment Proceedings Underway

On the separate impeachment matter concerning an Allahabad High Court judge, Dhankhar informed the House that a representation signed by 55 Rajya Sabha members had been received. He assured that verification of signatories was in progress, with most members responding positively.

“If the number of signatories is above 50, I will proceed accordingly. Those members who have not responded should do so to avoid any delays,” Dhankhar stated.

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