Govt Seeks All-Party Support on Justice Varma's Impeachment

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Wednesday that the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament will be held from July 21 to August 12, adding that the Union government wants the Opposition to be on board with its decision to move a motion of impeachment against sitting high court judge Justice Yashwant Varma.

- HT Correspondent

NEW DELHI:

The minister said the issue pertains to corruption in the judiciary and therefore, the motion of impeachment should be a collaborative effort and not viewed from a "political prism".

Referring to the government's attempts to build consensus on the impeachment motion, Rijiju said he's spoken to all major opposition parties including the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and the Samajwadi Party, and is in the process of speaking to other parties as well.

"I have started negotiations and the first round of informal discussions have been held. Today and tomorrow I will reach out to all the smaller parties as well," he said.

The government is keen to get the Opposition on board for the impeachment motion that requires both Houses to pass the motion with a two-thirds majority. To be sure, the Opposition too has sought action against the high court judge from whose official residence cash was recovered in March when firefighters were called in to douse a fire.

Pointing out that while the opposition parties have indicated that they will support the motion of impeachment, the minister said the issue cannot be viewed from a political prism.

"Impeachment cannot be a political matter and it is a matter related to corruption in judiciary and should be taken up jointly by parties. The impeachment being mooted is on the charge of corruption and we want to take everyone on board," he said.

He said the government did not expect any adverse response from the Opposition as the impeachment is on a "genuine issue related to corruption."