Process to impeach Justice Varma begins

{ TMC, SP DIDN'T SIGN NOTICE

- Saubhadra Chatterji

At least 149 lawmakers from the Lok Sabha and 63 from the Rajya Sabha on Monday signed two separate impeachment notices against sitting high court judge, justice Yashwant Varma, kicking off the process to remove the judge who is battling allegations of corruption after wads of cash were recovered from his house in Delhi.

The notices were signed by parliamentarians from more than 10 parties. But signalling a possible rift in the Opposition on this issue, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) MPs didn’t sign the notice, said a senior TMC leader.

Both opposition parties - constituents of the broader Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance —have 41 lawmakers each in Parliament. Some government managers had earlier said that they had secured the support of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on the issue.