Inquiry committee probing allegations against Justice Varma submits report to Speaker

📌 Summary:

• The Judges Inquiry Committee investigating allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma submitted its report to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on May 18, 2026

• Impeachment proceedings against Justice Varma had been initiated after unaccounted cash was discovered from his official residence during a fire, prompting concerns about judicial integrity

• The report was submitted in compliance with statutory requirements under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968; it will be laid before both Houses of Parliament in due course

• The report's findings are the legally required prerequisite step before a motion for removal can be moved in Parliament under Articles 124(4)/(5) (Supreme Court judges) or Article 217(1)(b) read with Article 124(4) (High Court judges)

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS-II — Independence of judiciary, judicial accountability mechanisms; impeachment procedure for judges; role of Parliament in oversight; transparency in higher judiciary.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 — lays down the procedure for investigating misbehaviour or incapacity of a Supreme Court / High Court judge
• Three-member inquiry committee under the 1968 Act: a Supreme Court judge, a Chief Justice of a High Court, and a distinguished jurist
• Removal of a SC/HC judge requires: majority of total membership of each House + 2/3 majority of members present and voting + Presidential order
• A judge has been impeached and removed in India: none successfully (closest case — Justice V. Ramaswami, 1993 — motion fell short in Lok Sabha)
• Speaker (Lok Sabha) since 2024: Om Birla

🔑 Key Term: Judges Inquiry Committee — statutory three-member body constituted by the Speaker / Chairman under the 1968 Act when an admitted impeachment motion against a judge requires evidence-based investigation before the matter is debated in Parliament.