Justice Verma cash controversy: Alright, buckle up. This one’s wild. So, Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court is at the center of a full-blown scandal. Firefighters bust into his house on Holi night (March 14), and guess what they find? A pile of partially burned cash. Yeah, you read that right. And now, former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi is saying, “Enough with the hush-hush. We need a proper forensic investigation, not just some internal probe.”
The ‘Impeachment Problem’ & Why It Never Happens
Rohatgi isn’t just talking about the justice Verma cash controversy. He’s going big-picture. According to him, the system for disciplining judges is a joke. Right now, impeachment is the only real option. But here’s the kicker—no judge has ever been successfully impeached in 75 years. That’s how messy and complicated the process is.
And Rohatgi isn’t holding back: “If a judge is guilty, action should be taken ASAP. There must be a better system for disciplinary action. Right now, the Constitution only allows impeachment, which is so ridiculously complex that nothing ever happens.”
He’s got a point. There have been three or four attempts in history, and every single one failed. Which means that, no matter what a judge does, there’s almost no actual punishment. Not exactly reassuring, huh?
Fire, Cash & A Judge in Trouble
Back to Justice Varma. So, on March 14, firefighters were called to his Delhi bungalow because, well, there was a fire. Pretty normal, right? Except, when they got inside, they found stacks of burnt currency. Yeah. Not a great look.
Rohatgi is pretty skeptical of how this is being handled. The Supreme Court has ordered an internal investigation, but he thinks that’s not enough. “We need a full-on police and forensic investigation,” he argues. “There are VCDs, CCTV footage—tons of evidence that needs to be properly examined.”
And let’s be real. If large amounts of burnt money are found in a judge’s house, shouldn’t the police be involved? You’d think so, right?
The Whole ‘Judges Picking Judges’ Debate
Now, this scandal isn’t just about the justice Verma cash controversy. Rohatgi is also bringing up another major issue—how judges are appointed in the first place. Right now, the collegium system means that judges basically pick other judges.
And Rohatgi? He thinks that’s a disaster. “The collegium is totally unsatisfactory and opaque,” he says. He’s not wrong—this system has been controversial for years. He points out that the Supreme Court has been pretty selective in how they interpret the Constitution. A decade ago, there was an attempt to introduce the National Judicial Commission (NJC) to make the process more transparent. But the Supreme Court shot it down.
According to Rohatgi, there has to be a middle ground. Something between the NJC and the current system. “We need some outsiders in the mix. It shouldn’t just be judges selecting judges.”
Justice Varma’s Transfer: Suspicious Timing?
Now, here’s where things get even weirder. The Supreme Court has recommended that Justice Varma be transferred back to the Allahabad High Court. And they’re saying this transfer has nothing to do with the cash controversy.
Rohatgi? He’s not buying it. “I don’t get it. Of course, it’s because of the cash scandal. Why else would he suddenly be transferred?”
Former Solicitor General Harish Salve is also raising eyebrows. He’s saying the transfer should be paused until there’s a proper investigation. “If the allegations are false, transferring him is unfair. If they’re true, then just transferring him isn’t enough.”
And honestly? He’s got a point. If Varma is innocent, then moving him just makes him look guilty. And if he’s guilty, then transferring him is barely even a slap on the wrist. So, yeah, the Supreme Court’s logic here is… questionable.
So, What Happens Now?
everyone’s waiting to see what happens next. The Supreme Court has its internal investigation. Rohatgi and others are pushing for a full-on forensic probe. And the whole justice Verma cash controversy is blowing up fast.
One thing’s clear—this is bigger than just one judge. It’s about judicial accountability, how judges are appointed, and how they’re disciplined. Rohatgi wants a system where corrupt judges can actually face consequences. And honestly? That seems like a pretty reasonable demand.
The big question: Will anything change? Or will this just be another scandal that fades away with no real consequences? Guess we’ll find out.
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