Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has issued a notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in connection with a petition filed by former Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Verma, who has challenged the legality of a three-member inquiry committee constituted by the Lok Sabha to probe corruption allegations against him.
Challenge to Lok Sabha Inquiry Committee
Justice Yashwant Verma, in his petition before the Supreme Court, argued that the inquiry committee formed by the Lok Sabha under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 is unconstitutional. He contended that although impeachment motions were introduced against him in both Houses of Parliament, the proposal was not approved by the Rajya Sabha. Despite this, the Lok Sabha went ahead and constituted a probe panel independently, which he claims is contrary to constitutional procedure.
Supreme Court Questions Parliamentary Process
A bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice A.J. Masih sought responses from the Lok Sabha Speaker’s office and the Secretaries General of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Justice Datta expressed surprise that despite the impeachment proposal being rejected in the Rajya Sabha, a committee was still formed by the Lok Sabha, and questioned why lawmakers and legal experts in Parliament did not flag this issue earlier.
Background of the Cash Recovery Case
The case gained prominence after an incident on March 14, when a fire broke out in a storeroom at Justice Verma’s official residence in Delhi, leading to the recovery of burnt bundles of currency notes. Following this, a three-judge inquiry panel found him guilty and recommended his removal, after which the government initiated impeachment proceedings in Parliament with the support of 146 MPs.
Relief Sought by Justice Verma
Justice Verma has sought the quashing of the Lok Sabha Speaker’s action dated August 12, 2025, arguing that the Speaker alone cannot constitute an inquiry committee and that any such panel must be jointly formed by both Houses before moving a motion for removal of a judge.
