Monsoon Session Day One: Impeachment Motion Against Justice Varma Set Rolling

The first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament was marked by opposition protests, leading to early adjournment of Lok Sabha and setting a confrontational tone for the days ahead. While both houses were rocked by disruptions, the day’s most significant development was the initiation of a historic motion to impeach a sitting High Court judge.

The session began with Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the media, where he highlighted his government's economic achievements, noting that the inflation rate is now around 2 per cent, and that his administration is working towards making India the third-largest economy.

However, inside Lok Sabha, proceedings quickly descended into chaos. Opposition members stormed the well of the house, raising slogans and demanding an immediate discussion and a statement from the Prime Minister on the Pahalgam terrorist attack and the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, particularly in light of United States President Donald Trump’s claims of having mediated between India and Pakistan.

Despite assurances from the government that it was ready for a discussion, protests continued unabated, forcing the Lok Sabha Speaker to adjourn the house multiple times before calling it a day.

Rajya Sabha witnessed similar scenes, with Opposition members demanding discussions on the same issues. A heated exchange erupted between Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of House JP Nadda.

Kharge insisted on a debate under Rule 267, while Nadda countered that the government was prepared to discuss the issues but the Opposition was disrupting proceedings.

Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu addressed Rajya Sabha on the investigation into the Ahmedabad Air India AI171 flight crash. He assured the house that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is conducting a “totally unbiased” and transparent probe.

He urged members to wait for the final report and cautioned against “western media” trying to promote its “own viewpoint”.

Despite protests, the Upper House managed to conduct legislative business, passing the Bills of Lading Bill, 2025. The bill aims to modernise the legal framework for the shipping industry.

In a landmark move that saw rare cross-party consensus, notices to initiate removal proceedings against High Court Justice Yashwant Varma were submitted in both houses. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar confirmed that the notice he received had been signed by 63 members.

In Lok Sabha, a similar notice was submitted backed by 145 MPs, setting in motion the constitutional process for the judge's removal, which follows allegations that he had amassed cash at his residence.

As both houses adjourned to resume on Tuesday, the turbulent first day has clearly indicated that the government faces a challenging session ahead, with the Opposition set upon cornering it on several fronts.