Setback for Justice Varma: Supreme Court dismisses judge's plea in cash haul row

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the writ petition filed by Allahabad High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma challenging the in-house inquiry report, which indicted him in the case-at-home scandal.

The verdict paves way for Parliament to quicken impeachment proceedings against the judge, who had also challenged the then CJI's recommendation to the President to remove him. Importantly, a bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and AG Masih held that the constitution of the in-house committee and the inquiry procedure followed by it was not illegal.

"The CJI and the in-house committee scrupulously followed the process except uploading photos and video, and we have said it was not required. But nothing turned on it because you did not challenge it then," the apex court observed.

"We have held that CJI sending letter to the Prime Minister and President was not unconstitutional. We have made certain observations where we have kept it open for you to raise proceedings if needed in the future," SC further said.

The fire at Justice Varma’s residence on March 14 triggered the entire sequence of events. According to officials, sacks filled with charred currency notes were found at the outhouse of his Delhi bungalow by firefighters. Chief justice of Delhi High Court flagged the issue to the CJI, leading to the formation of the inquiry panel.

The 64-page inquiry report, submitted by in-house probe committee, comprising then high court chief justices Sheel Nagu (Punjab and Haryana), GS Sandhawalia (Himachal Pradesh), and Justice Anu Sivaraman (Karnataka high court) cited “strong inferential evidence” to conclude that Justice Varma had “covert or active control” over the charred cash. While admitting that no direct evidence linked him to the currency, the panel held that his conduct “belied the trust” reposed in a constitutional judge and warranted impeachment proceedings.