Justice Yashwant Verma has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the inquiry committee's report and the recommendation for his removal from office. This petition was filed before the impeachment process.
Justice Yashwant SC: A significant turn occurred in the Supreme Court when Justice Yashwant Verma, former Judge of the Delhi High Court, challenged the report of the Supreme Court's internal inquiry committee. He filed this petition just before the Parliament's monsoon session, when impeachment proceedings against him are likely to begin.
Demand to invalidate the investigation report
In his petition, Justice Verma has sought the annulment of the recommendation sent by the then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sanjeev Khanna, to the President and the Prime Minister on May 8. This recommendation called for initiating constitutional action against him. He has urged the court to declare the investigation committee's report illegal, arbitrary, and against the principles of natural justice.
Fire in government residence, burnt notes raised questions
This entire matter came to light when a fire broke out in Justice Verma's government residence on the night of Holi, March 14. At the time, he and his wife were in Bhopal, while his daughter and elderly mother were present in the house.
During the extinguishing of the fire, firefighters discovered sacks filled with burnt notes in a store room. Following this, two videos from the scene also surfaced, making the matter even more controversial. After this incident, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court constituted an internal inquiry committee.
Petition filed before the impeachment process
Verma's petition has come at a time when the Parliament's monsoon session is about to begin. According to sources, the government is considering bringing an impeachment motion against Justice Verma in this session. In such a situation, this petition could affect this constitutional process.
What has been said in the petition
The petition states that the inquiry committee did not give Verma adequate opportunity to be heard and his side was not properly listened to. He alleged that the report was prepared with a pre-determined intention and its purpose is to create an environment to remove him from his post. He has demanded that this report be quashed and that impeachment or any other constitutional process be stayed until the court makes a final decision on it.
