SC notice to LS, RS secretariat on Justice Varma's plea challenging constitution of inquiry panel

A bench sought replies on the petition filed by the judge, who challenged the validity of the parliamentary committee to probe corruption charges.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Secretariats on a plea filed by Allahabad High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma challenging the impeachment proceedings against him.

He contended that the provisions of the Judges Inquiry Act, 1968 were not followed and that the motion was not passed by both Houses on the same day.

A bench led by Justice Dipankar Datta, on Tuesday sought replies on the petition filed by the judge, who challenged the validity of the parliamentary committee, constituted under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, to probe corruption charges.

He questioned the validity of the three-member committee constituted solely by the Lok Sabha under the procedure provided by the Judges Inquiry Act.

In his plea, Justice Varma contended that the introduction of motion regarding his removal in both the Houses of Parliament mandated that the constitution of a three-member committee must be formed jointly by both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and not unilaterally by the Speaker of Lok Sabha.

A three-member judges inquiry panel earlier found piles of burnt and unburnt cash at the residence of Justice Varma after examining more than 55 witnesses. The panel indicted Justice Varma for his misconduct. 

It found no plausible explanation on the part of Justice Varma with respect to his statement that he did not have of any knowledge of the cash. It said that the conduct of the Allahabad High Court judge was unnatural and recommended his removal.

On May 8, upon the indictment of Justice Varma in the cash discovery row by a Supreme Court-appointed in-house committee, then CJI Sanjiv Khanna had sent a letter to the Centre recommending his impeachment.

On August 7, 2025, the Supreme Court held, the in-house inquiry procedure on a complaint against a judge is fair and just, and it does not compromise judicial independence or contravenes the constitutional provisional related to his or her removal.

The court dismissed a plea filed by Justice Varma, questioning the validity of actions initiated against him, including the recommendation for his removal, after having been indicted by an in-house inquiry committee report over discovery of cash haul at a store room of his official residence here during the fire incident on March 14, 2025.

After the controversy, Justice Varma was repatriated from the Delhi High Court to Allahabad High Court without any judicial work.