By News18
Parliament Monsoon Session: The central government has extended the dates of the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju announced on social media that the session, initially scheduled from July 21 to August 12, will now continue till August 21.
According to sources, the extension has been made to accommodate additional legislative business likely to be tabled during the session.
A key agenda that is expected to dominate the proceedings is the pending removal motion against Justice Yashwant Varma, who is facing serious allegations of corruption. Evidence, including cash and partially burnt documents, was reportedly recovered from his residence.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has already begun consultations with key opposition leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee, and DMK leader MK Stalin.
鈥淲e have initiated discussions with various political parties, and several of them are already on board,鈥 Rijiju told CNN-News18.
The Union Minister is also coordinating the procedural steps required for the motion, including securing the signatures of 100 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 50 in the Rajya Sabha. Sources indicate the government aims to gather support not just from NDA members but also from sections of the opposition.
The government is yet to finalise whether the motion will be introduced in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha. As per procedure, once a motion is admitted in either House, the presiding officer will form a three-member committee鈥攃omprising a Supreme Court judge, a High Court judge, and a legal expert鈥攖o examine the charges.
While the Chief Justice of India has already submitted a report to President Droupadi Murmu, recommending Justice Varma鈥檚 removal, legal experts point out that the report was based on an internal inquiry. As per the Judges Inquiry Act, a separate parliamentary committee must now conduct an independent review.
Officials familiar with the process also clarified that the term 鈥渋mpeachment鈥 applies solely to the President of India. In the case of judges or other constitutional authorities, the correct terminology is 鈥渞emoval motion.鈥
Meanwhile, on the opposition鈥檚 demand for action against Justice Shekhar Yadav鈥攁ccused of making inflammatory remarks against a specific community鈥攖he Vice President is expected to issue a ruling shortly.