LS Speaker Claims Rajya Sabha Motion to Remove Judge Varma Was Never Valid

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The Lok Sabha Speaker's office has informed the Supreme Court that a motion to remove Allahabad High Court judge Yashwant Varma was never admitted in the Rajya Sabha due to being deemed 'defective'. This revelation has added a new twist to the controversy surrounding the judge's removal following the discovery of currency notes at his official residence last year. The Supreme Court is examining a plea by justice Varma challenging the Speaker's decision to proceed with an inquiry despite the motion not being admitted in the Rajya Sabha. The Speaker's office claimed that a communication was sent to the Lok Sabha stating that the motion was defective and never admitted. Acting on this information, the Lok Sabha Speaker admitted the motion and constituted an inquiry committee headed by Supreme Court judge Aravind Kumar. According to the response filed by Lok Sabha secretary general Utpal Kumar Singh, the Rajya Sabha Chairman did not scrutinize the motion or take a decision on its admission. The Deputy Chairman decided not to admit the motion after being informed by the secretary general that it was defective. The Lok Sabha Speaker has argued that the petition by justice Varma is based on a misconception that the mere presentation of a motion in either or both Houses of Parliament amounts to admission. The response stated that the motion can only be admitted after scrutiny and satisfaction by the Speaker or Chairman. A bench of justices Dipankar Datta and SC Sharma will consider the latest disclosure on Wednesday. The committee constituted by the Lok Sabha Speaker has issued notice to justice Varma and asked him to submit his statement in defence of the charges by January 12, 2026, and to physically appear on January 24.