In a blow to Justice Yashwant Varma, the Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed his writ petition challenging the in-house inquiry report that indicted him in the unaccounted cash row, as well as the Chief
Justice of India’s recommendation for his removal.
A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and AG Masih upheld the validity of the internal inquiry mechanism and noted that the judge’s conduct was “questionable.”
The bench also observed that while the uploading of the inquiry video was not a correct decision, it was not challenged at the appropriate time, and thus no relief could be granted on that ground.
Justice Varma had approached the Supreme Court seeking to overturn the findings of the in-house panel and the subsequent recommendation made by the CJI.
The inquiry had linked him to alleged misconduct involving unaccounted cash and financial irregularities.
In his petition, Justice Varma mentioned that the principles of natural justice were not complied with, and that a fair chance to present his case was not granted to him.
Justice Varma also mentioned that then-Supreme Court Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna denied him a personal hearing.
JUSTICE YASHWANT VARMA CONTROVERSY
A fire incident at Varma’s residence in the national capital in March this year, when he was a judge at the Delhi High Court, had led to the discovery of sacks of cash in the outhouse.
He was subsequently repatriated to the Allahabad High Court, and an in-house probe ordered by Khanna had indicted him.
Though Varma denied any wrongdoing, the enquiry panel, by a Supreme Court-constituted committee, had concluded Varma and his family members had “covert or active control” over the storeroom, where the cash was discovered, proving his misconduct serious enough to seek his removal.
After he declined to resign, Khanna referred the matter to the President and the Prime Minister.
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