Justice Yashwant Varma cash row: VP Jagdeep Dhankhar to meet Nadda, Kharge over judicial accountability

“That historic legislation endorsed by this Parliament with unprecedented consensual support unknown to parliamentary history of this country dealt with the malaise very severely. If the malaise had been dealt with perhaps we would not have countenanced such kind of issues (the alleged cash case). What bothers me is that the incident happened and did not immediately surface,” he said.

“If it happens with a politician, he becomes a target, a bureaucrat, an industrialist immediately and therefore systemic response which is transparent, accountable, effective, I am sure will be on the way. I will get in touch with Leader of the House, Leader of the Opposition and find a mechanism for a structured discussion during course of the session subject to their agreement,” Dhankhar had said.

This is not the first time that Dhankhar has raised the issue of NJAC. In several speeches outside the House and inside, he has said that Parliament’s sovereignty in law-making cannot be diluted by the executive or judiciary.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress planned to raise the issue in both Houses on Monday. In the Rajya Sabha, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury gave notice of motion to suspend business to discuss “judicial reforms and accountability” in the context of the alleged cash recovery at the judge’s home after a fire broke out earlier this month. In the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Manickam Tagore gave an adjournment motion to discuss the “urgent and pressing issue”.

The Supreme Court Saturday launched an in-house inquiry against Justice Yashwant Varma following allegations that cash was discovered at his home during a fire that occurred on March 14, as shown in a purported video.