Justice Yashwant Varma moves SC; questions validity of inquiry report

New Delhi (TIP)- Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court has approached the Supreme Court challenging the in-house committee report that indicted him following the discovery of unaccounted cash at his official residence in Delhi, Bar and Bench reported.
His petition comes even as reports suggest the Centre may soon introduce an impeachment motion in Parliament seeking his removal.
In his plea, Justice Varma has asked the top court to declare the recommendation made by the then Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna for his removal as unconstitutional and beyond legal authority. He has questioned the in-house inquiry process, calling it an “extra-constitutional mechanism” that undermines the law. According to him, only Parliament has the power to remove a High Court judge, as per the Constitution.
‘No safeguards like Judges Inquiry Act’: Justice Yashwant Varma
The judge has also said that the in-house inquiry lacks the legal protections available under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, which outlines due process for investigating judges. He argued that the process followed in his case did not meet the standards of natural justice and fair hearing, Bar and Bench reported.
Cash found after fire at Justice Verma’s residence
The controversy began after a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s official residence in Delhi on March 14. Firefighters, while dousing the flames, allegedly found bundles of unaccounted cash at the scene. At the time of the incident, Justice Varma and his wife were in Madhya Pradesh. Only his daughter and elderly mother were at home when the fire occurred.
A video later surfaced showing what appeared to be stacks of currency notes burning in the fire.
Justice Varma has denied any wrongdoing and claimed the incident appears to be part of a conspiracy to frame him. Following the allegations, Chief Justice Khanna ordered an in-house inquiry on March 22 and set up a three-judge committee.
After the controversy, Justice Varma was transferred back to the Allahabad High Court, where he re-administered the oath of office. However, he has not been assigned any judicial work as per the CJI’s directions.
The committee that investigated the matter began its probe on March 25 and the final report was submitted to then CJI Khanna on May 4. The panel found Justice Varma culpable, after which the CJI sent the report to the President, recommending his impeachment.
In his petition, Justice Varma said the in-house procedure was invoked without any formal complaint being made against him. He has criticised the public disclosure of the allegations through a press release by the Supreme Court, calling it “unprecedented” and a trigger for media trial.