System should have moved immediately: Vice President Dhankhar on cash being found at Justice Varma's home

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has said recently addressed the cash discovery row at Justice Yashwant Varma's home and said that if cash was found, the system should have moved immediately.

The first process would have been to deal with it as a criminal act, find out those who are culpable and bring them to justice, VP Dhankhar added while speaking at NUALS Kochi.

"But so far, there has been no FIR. The government at the central level is handicapped because an FIR cannot be registered in view of a judgment of the Supreme Court rendered in early 90s. I'm all for independence of Judiciary. I'm a strong votary of protecting judges...We must protect our Judges from frivolous litigation...But when something like this happens, it is worrisome", he added.

Notably, the Centre is preparing to introduce an impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma in the upcoming session of Parliament, following his indictment by the SC-Panel set up in cash probe. Sources within the government confirmed that efforts are underway to build consensus across party lines before tabling the motion.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju is expected to initiate discussions with leaders of various political parties to garner support for the move.

The allegations surfaced after a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s official residence in New Delhi earlier, while he was serving at the Delhi High Court. Several sacks were uncovered filled with cash on premises, prompting a deeper probe into the matter.

Earlier, Bombay Lawyers Association approached Chief Justice of India seeking sanction to initiate criminal prosecution against Justice Varma.

More recently, Supreme Court appointed panel which indicted Justice Varma revealed that the access to storeroom where burnt cash was found, was under active control of the judge and his family.

On May 21, the Top Court declined a petition seeking registration of FIR against Justice Yashwant Varma. Justice Varma had reportedly refused to put in resignation following his indictment by the panel.

On May 8, Former CJI Sanjiv Khanna had forwarded the report submitted by 3-member committee to the President of India. The panel submitted its report to the outgoing CJI on May 4, indicting Justice Varma.