Justice Yashwant Varma has filed a significant petition in the Supreme Court, seeking to cancel the report submitted by a three-judge in-house enquiry panel, which had found strong inferential evidence against him in a controversial case involving a large sum of burnt currency notes found at his residence. The case has garnered nationwide attention due to its sensitive nature and the involvement of a sitting judge. Justice Varma argues in his plea that the panel's report and the impeachment recommendation that followed were unjust and violated his basic rights. He specifically challenges the actions of then Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, who had recommended his impeachment based on the panel's findings.
Justice Varma’s main argument is that the enquiry process was unfair and did not uphold the principles of natural justice. According to him, he was not given a proper opportunity to defend himself. He claims he was denied a fair hearing and was not allowed to cross-examine the witnesses who testified against him. These allegations, if true, raise serious concerns about the procedural integrity of the internal judicial investigation. Furthermore, Justice Varma asserts that the committee unfairly shifted the burden of proof onto him, making it his responsibility to disprove the assumptions that were, according to him, based on speculation rather than solid facts.
The controversy began on March 14 when a fire broke out at Justice Varma's residence in Delhi. During the investigation of the fire, officials discovered a massive pile of cash, most of which was burnt. This shocking discovery prompted an internal judicial probe to examine the source of the money and whether any wrongdoing was involved. The incident has since triggered legal and political repercussions, with Justice Varma facing serious allegations that have now led to the initiation of impeachment proceedings in both houses of Parliament.
In the Lok Sabha, a motion for the impeachment of Justice Varma has been formally submitted and signed by 152 Members of Parliament. These signatories belong to various political parties, including the Congress, TDP, JDU, JDS, and CPM, indicating broad-based political support for his removal from office. The motion was submitted to Speaker Om Birla and marks a rare and serious development in Indian judicial and parliamentary history. The impeachment procedure, if it proceeds, could result in Justice Varma’s removal from the bench, making this a landmark case in terms of judicial accountability and transparency.
Meanwhile, similar steps have also been taken in the Rajya Sabha. A separate motion seeking Justice Varma's removal was submitted to the Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman, Jagdeep Dhankhar. This petition, signed by over 50 Rajya Sabha members, was handed in just hours before Justice Varma submitted his resignation. His resignation adds a dramatic twist to the ongoing controversy, raising questions about the timing and implications of such a move. It remains to be seen whether the resignation will halt the impeachment proceedings or whether Parliament and the judiciary will choose to continue the process in the interest of public accountability and justice.
