New Delhi
Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Kapil Sibal has urged Opposition parties to withhold support for any impeachment proceedings against Justice Yashwant Varma until an inquiry is initiated into allegations against Justice Shekhar Yadav. In an interview, Sibal claimed the move against Justice Varma appears politically motivated, calling him “one of the most independent High Court judges.”
Justice Varma faces scrutiny following the discovery of burnt currency notes at his residence after a fire. Sibal argued the case does not amount to corruption and warned parties against misjudging it as such. He criticised the government’s involvement in collecting signatures for the impeachment motion, stating, “The Constitution allows MPs to initiate such proceedings, not the government.”
Sibal alleged the government may be using the situation to pressure the judiciary or revive a version of the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC). He also noted that the incident was mishandled by Delhi Police and fire services, and claimed no proper investigation was conducted into how the money was placed at the judge’s home.
He questioned the validity of the Supreme Court’s internal report, calling it procedurally irrelevant for impeachment. Sibal insisted the Opposition demand an investigation into Justice Yadav’s alleged communal remarks before endorsing any move against Justice Varma. “This is not a partisan issue but a constitutional matter. The judiciary must be protected from selective targeting,” Sibal said, emphasizing that fair inquiry should precede any impeachment process, especially in cases involving members of the higher judiciary.