'Is he your friend?': CJI Gavai rebukes lawyer over reference to Justice Varma amid probe plea

Justice Varma, who initially served in the Delhi High Court and was later transferred to the Allahabad High Court, is facing serious allegations following the recovery of large amounts of burnt currency from his residence in early March.

Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, on Monday, issued a sharp rebuke to a lawyer in the Supreme Court for referring to Justice Yashwant Varma merely as "Varma" during a hearing related to a petition demanding a probe against the judge.

Justice Varma, who initially served in the Delhi High Court and was later transferred to the Allahabad High Court, is facing serious allegations following the recovery of large amounts of burnt currency from his residence in early March.

The court proceedings saw Advocate Mathews Nedumpara seeking urgent listing of his plea for an FIR against the judge. His repeated reference to the judge without an honorific, however, irked the CJI Gavai.

“Is Justice Varma your friend? He is still a sitting judge of a high court. How are you referring to him just as ‘Varma’?” the CJI lashed out, pulling up Nedumpara, warning him that his petition could be dismissed instantly.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also objected to the same, defending the decorum owed to serving members of the judiciary.

Justice Varma's case has attracted wide political attention ever since firefighters discovered plastic bags filled with half-burnt cash while responding to a fire at Justice Varma’s official residence on March 14.

Though videos and photographs were reportedly taken by police at the scene, no FIR was registered due to judicial immunity clauses established under the landmark K. Veeraswami ruling, which requires the Chief Justice of India’s permission to investigate sitting judges.

Nedumpara’s petition has also challenged the constitutionality of the three-member internal inquiry committee formed by the apex court, alleging it infringes upon the police’s statutory responsibilities.

The committee had earlier found Justice Varma guilty of misconduct, prompting then CJI Sanjiv Khanna to urge Parliament to initiate impeachment proceedings.

Meanwhile, according to sources, over 100 Members of Parliament have already signed an impeachment motion against Justice Varma.

Leaders from the opposition INDIA bloc are expected to submit the letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker by 2 pm on Monday.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed the signature tally has crossed the threshold, adding that the impeachment initiative is being treated as a bipartisan effort.

Rijiju, however, clarified that any discussion on the issue in Parliament would depend on clearance from the Business Advisory Committee. “We cannot pre-empt the decision. It will be taken up as per due parliamentary procedure,” he noted.