Parliamentary Speaker Om Birla forms a three-member panel to scrutinize the Justice Varma affair
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In a significant development for the Indian judiciary, a three-member inquiry committee has found "strong inferential evidence" that Justice Yashwart Verma, a High Court judge, had "covert or active control" over a large quantity of burnt cash discovered at his official residence during a fire-fighting operation in March 2025. This has led to a recommendation for his removal from judicial office.
Details of the Charges and Inquiry Findings
The inquiry committee, set up by then-Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, conducted an in-depth investigation and submitted a 64-page report by 3 May 2025. The report concluded that Justice Varma was culpable for judicial misconduct related to the cash discovery.
On 14 March 2025, the Delhi Fire Service personnel recovered unaccounted cash from an outhouse at Justice Varma’s official residence during a fire incident. Following this, the Supreme Court Collegium transferred Justice Varma from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court and instructed that he not be assigned judicial work pending inquiry completion.
Legal and Parliamentary Proceedings
Over 145 Members of Parliament signed a motion seeking his impeachment under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, citing the breach of financial and ethical integrity expected of a judge. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla constituted a three-member parliamentary inquiry committee to investigate the allegations further per constitutional provisions (Articles 124, 217, and 218).
Justice Varma challenged the in-house inquiry’s report in the Supreme Court, but the court dismissed his plea as "not worth entertaining," defending the constitutional validity of the inquiry and the recommendation for removal. The Supreme Court also criticized Justice Varma for his conduct during the inquiry process as "not inspiring confidence."
At present, the matter awaits further hearings in the Supreme Court and parliamentary proceedings to potentially initiate his removal from office, making this a rare and significant judicial disciplinary action in independent India.
The Composition of the Inquiry Committee
The committee comprises Supreme Court judge Justice Aravind Kumar, Madras High Court Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, and senior advocate of Karnataka High Court B V Acharya.
Protests and Demands for Impeachment
The Allahabad High Court Bar Association staged a protest and demanded Justice Varma's impeachment, as well as an investigation into the case. The notice for the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma was admitted in the Lok Sabha, and the speaker set a deadline for the committee to submit its report as early as possible. The committee will submit its report as early as possible.
Conclusion
The case of Justice Yashwant Varma is not the first instance of a judge facing impeachment in India. This development underscores the importance of maintaining the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary in upholding the rule of law in the country. The ongoing proceedings will be closely watched as they progress, with significant implications for the Indian judicial system.
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