Cash-at-Hom Ro: CJI recommends impeachment of judicial Yashwant Verma, reports India News

New Delhi: India’s Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna has recommended the impeachment of Allahabad High Court Justice Yashwant Verma, after his prosecution in the cash recovery dispute by the Supreme Court.According to PTI sources, the CJI has submitted a three -member inquiry committee report to President Daupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Justice Verma’s response.This step follows the established in-house process, under which CJI advises a judge to resign in the light of serious conclusions. If the judge does not comply with, the CJI may proceed with the recommendation of impeachment.The Supreme Court said in a statement, “According to the in-house process, the Chief Justice of India has written to the President and the Prime Minister of India, surrounds the report of the committee on May 3 and Justice Yashwant Verma’s reaction of May 6.”The Supreme Court -appointed panel upheld the allegations related to the discovery of cash at the official residence of Justice Verma. The committee included Chief Justice Sheel Nagu (Punjab and Haryana High Court) and GS Sandhwalia (Himachal Pradesh High Court), Justice Anu Shivraman (Karnataka High Court). His report was finalized on 3 May.Sources also said that the CJI had earlier urged Justice Verma to resign, citing the findings of the panel, which was shared with him for his response, keeping in mind the principles of natural justice.The panel allegedly investigated the evidence of more than 50 persons and recorded statements, including Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora and heads of Delhi Fire Services, both responded to the fire incident at Justice Verma’s residence in Delhi at around 11.35 am when he was still a judge of the Delhi High Court.Justice Verma has denied allegations on both Chief Justice of Delhi High Court and Committee appointed by the Supreme Court in its reactions.Controversy began after media reports regarding the cash recovery incident surfaced. An initial investigation was conducted by Chief Justice of Delhi High Court DK Upadhyay. Subsequently, Justice Verma was divided by judicial work in the Delhi High Court and transferred to the Allahabad High Court without any judicial responsibilities.On 24 March, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended its repatriation in its parents’ High Court in Allahabad. Four days later, the apex court directed that Justice Verma had not been assigned to judicial duties.In 2014, investigating a separate case related to alleged sexual harassment, the Supreme Court determined a structured in-house process to investigate complaints against judges of constitutional courts.According to the guidelines, this process begins with determining the prima facial reliability of a complaint. If the warrant is performed, a three -member panel is formed, including two chief judicial (excluding the judges’ court) and a High Court judge from the High Courts. This deep investigation leads to a report submitted to CJI.The committee’s report can conclude that the allegations either have no substance or they warrant further action. If misconduct is found to be quite severe, the CJI may advise a judge to resign or demand voluntary retirement. If the judge records a decline, the CJI may direct that the judge is not entrusted with judicial work and then formally the President and the Prime Minister may recommend impeachment to the Prime Minister.