New Delhi, April 18 (UNI) Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday reopened the episode involving the alleged seizure of burnt cash from the residence of then Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma about a month back and demanded answers from the Supreme Court-appointed 3-judge panel investigating charges of corruption.
“The episode should be thoroughly exposed. Independence of judiciary is not an impregnable shield against investigation, or an inquiry by a judicial officer,” Dhankhar said.
Addressing the 6th batch of Rajya Sabha trainees at the Vice President’s residence here, Dhankhar said that a month has passed since the Verma case, but nothing has been made public.
No FIR has been registered in this case, while citing the Constitution’s immunity for the President and Governors, Dhankhar said. “A disclosure should be made now”, he said.
“I refer to recent events. They are on our minds. An incident took place at the residence of a judge in New Delhi on the night of March 14 and 15.
“For seven days, no one knew about it. We have to ask ourselves questions. Information is needed regarding the reason for the delay in this regard. This delay is not excusable,” said the Vice President.
He said the entire nation is shocked by the episode. The people are worried and disturbed at the shocking revelation. It needs to be investigated, he said.
“Now the nation is waiting with bated breath. The nation is restless because one of our institutions, which people have always looked up to with the highest respect and reverence, has been put in the dock,” said the VP.
Emphasising the importance of the rule of law, Dhankhar said that in a democratic nation, the purity of its criminal justice system defines its direction. At this point, no investigation is in progress (in the episode) under the law. Because a criminal investigation should start with an FIR.
He said it is the law of the country that every cognisable crime must be reported to the police, and failure to do so is a crime in itself. “An FIR can be filed against anyone in the country. Just activate the rule of law. No permission is required,” he said.
“However, if an FIR cannot be lodged directly in the category of judge, it should be approved by the judiciary. But this is not given in the Constitution. The Constitution of India has provided immunity from prosecution only to the President and Governors. Every person is thinking that if this incident had happened at his house, the speed of action would have been that of a rocket. Now here it is not even a bullock cart,” said Dhankhar.
The Vice President said that a committee of three judges is investigating the matter, but investigation is the area of the executive. “It is not the area of the judiciary. This committee is not under the Constitution of India. This committee of three judges is not under any law of Parliament,” said the VP, adding that this committee can make a recommendation at most. “Action against judges can be taken only by Parliament,” he added.
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