Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has reconstituted a three-member inquiry committee to investigate allegations against Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma. The committee, effective from March 6, 2026, will be chaired by Justice Aravind Kumar of the Supreme Court, with Justice Shree Chandrashekhar of the Bombay High Court and senior advocate B.V. Acharya of the Karnataka High Court as members.
The reconstitution follows the retirement of Madras High Court Chief Justice Maninder Mohan Shrivastava, who was part of the original committee formed in August 2025 after impeachment notices were raised against Justice Varma in Parliament. Justice Shree Chandrashekhar now replaces him on the panel, while Justice Aravind Kumar and senior advocate B.V. Acharya continue as members.
Justice Varma faced controversy after burnt cash was found in an outhouse of his official residence in March 2025. Impeachment notices, supported by members from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, were presented in July 2025, leading to the formation of the inquiry committee under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.
The Supreme Court recently dismissed Justice Varma’s plea challenging the Speaker’s decision to set up the inquiry committee. The court upheld the constitution of the panel, rejecting Varma’s argument that joint consultation between the Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairman was necessary for such committees.
