Justice Yashwant Varma's case verdict postponed; Supreme Court maintains reserve decision due to lack of trust in current situation
In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has reserved its verdict on the petition filed by Allahabad High Court Justice Yashwant Varma, challenging the in-house inquiry panel's report that recommended his removal over the discovery of unaccounted cash at his official residence in Delhi.
The petition, filed on July 17, 2025, contests the inquiry panel's procedure and the recommendation by the Chief Justice of India for his removal. Justice Varma argues that the process lacks constitutional and procedural legitimacy and was predetermined.
Meanwhile, the parliamentary impeachment process is undergoing a restructure. The earlier opposition-backed impeachment motion in the Rajya Sabha was not admitted and has been discarded. Now, a government-sponsored motion will proceed in the Lok Sabha. The Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, will form a committee to investigate and potentially recommend impeachment.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and A.G. Masih, has expressed concerns over Justice Varma's conduct for delaying his challenge to the inquiry and criticized his decision to appear before the panel without disputing its authority earlier. The Court emphasized the need for the judiciary to demonstrate proper procedural adherence, regardless of any political decision on impeachment.
Here's a summary of the latest status:
- Supreme Court Challenge: The Court has reserved its verdict on Justice Varma's plea challenging the inquiry panel's report and removal recommendation.
- Parliamentary Impeachment: The Rajya Sabha motion has been discarded, and a government-sponsored motion will proceed in the Lok Sabha with an investigative committee to be formed by Speaker Om Birla.
- Key Legal Issues Raised: Alleged lack of authority of the in-house panel to recommend removal, procedural unfairness, denial of fair opportunity, and constitutional challenges by Justice Varma.
- Supreme Court Observations: Criticism of delay in contesting the inquiry, need for judicial process transparency, and due procedure.
The case remains pending both in the Supreme Court and in Parliament, with the final outcome dependent on the Court's verdict on procedural objections and the Lok Sabha committee's investigation. The recovery of a large sum of unaccounted cash from Justice Yashwant Varma's official residence in Delhi is a key aspect of the case. The recommendation to impeach Justice Yashwant Varma was made by former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna.
- The ongoing debate in policy-and-legislation regarding Justice Yashwant Varma's removal from his position involves politics, as the process has come under scrutiny for its fairness and adherence to constitutional norms, following the discovery of unaccounted cash at his residence.
- In the general news, the parallel proceedings in both the Supreme Court and the Lok Sabha continue to unfold, with the Court mulling over objections to the inquiry panel's report and the Lok Sabha committee commencing investigation on the impeachment motion against Justice Varma.
