In a significant development within an ongoing judicial impeachment inquiry, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has appointed retired Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Ganapati Bhat as the Secretary to the three-member committee investigating allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma. The appointment order, issued on Friday, marks a pivotal step in the probe constituted under the Judges (Inquiry) Act.
A Seasoned Bureaucrat for a High-Stakes Role
Shri Ganapati Bhat, a 1989-batch IRS officer from the Uttara Kannada region, brings over three decades of distinguished expertise to this critical position. He retired as the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax for the Karnataka and Goa Region. His extensive career includes key roles such as:
Principal Chief Commissioner (International Taxation), New Delhi
Director General of Income Tax (Investigation) for Karnataka, Goa, and Kerala
Additional Secretary in the Lok Sabha
This unique background, combining deep investigative acumen with intimate knowledge of parliamentary procedure, equips him ideally to support the committee in its complex and sensitive mandate.
Committee Composition and Mandate
The inquiry committee, announced by Speaker Birla last month, comprises:
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Justice Aravind Kumar of the Supreme Court of India
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Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava of the Madras High Court
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Senior Advocate B V Acharya
The panel is tasked with conducting a thorough investigation into serious allegations of misconduct against Justice Yashwant Varma, which could potentially lead to impeachment proceedings.
Origins of the Controversy
The probe was triggered by a March 2025 incident at the official residence of Justice Varma (then a judge of the Delhi High Court), where burnt currency notes were discovered following a fire. This discovery raised profound questions, prompting demands for a formal investigation and igniting a significant legal and political discourse.
Potential Implications
The findings of the committee, supported by Shri Bhat in his capacity as Secretary, will be instrumental in determining the next course of action. Should the committee conclude that the charges against Justice Varma are valid, its report could form the basis for a historic impeachment motion in Parliament—a rare and grave measure in India’s judicial annals. The nation now awaits the panel’s deliberations.
