Impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma:SCexpresses concern over procedural lapse, issues notice to Speaker, LS, RS Secretariats

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Secretariats of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on a petition filed by Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, who has questioned the legality of the impeachment process initiated against him under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, by the Lower House.

- PARMOD KUMAR

A Bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih indicated prima facie reservations about the manner in which the process had been set in motion, particularly the unilateral constitution of an inquiry committee by the LS Speaker.

"So many MPs and legal experts, but no one pointed this out?" Justice Datta remarked during the hearing, expressing surprise over the procedural lapse highlighted in the petition.

The Court issued notice to the Speaker as well as the Secretariats of both Houses of Parliament and indicated that the matter would be taken up for further hearing in the first week of January.