Supreme Court Panel Launches Investigation into Justice Yashwant Varma Amid Cash Discovery Controversy
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Synopsis
A three-member committee established by the Supreme Court has begun its investigation into allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court following the discovery of unaccounted cash at his residence. The inquiry was initiated after significant concerns arose regarding the circumstances of the cash found.
Key Takeaways
- The Supreme Court appointed a three-member committee for inquiry.
- Justice Yashwant Varma's judicial duties are suspended.
- Burnt cash was reportedly found at Varma's residence.
- The Supreme Court Collegium recommended repatriation to the Allahabad HC.
- The inquiry process is separate from the transfer proposal.
New Delhi, March 25 (NationPress) A three-member committee established by the Supreme Court has officially commenced an investigation into the allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court, following the discovery of a significant amount of unaccounted cash at his residence in the national capital. The committee initiated its inquiry on Monday.
The panel inspected Justice Yashwant Varma's official residence located at Tughlak Crescent in Delhi and reportedly spent over thirty minutes inside the premises, where a large quantity of burnt cash was allegedly found in the storeroom after a fire brigade was summoned to extinguish a blaze on March 14.
In light of the shocking revelation regarding the cash, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna established the committee on Friday to investigate the claims against Justice Varma and directed the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court to refrain from assigning him any judicial responsibilities for the time being.
According to a statement from the Supreme Court, "The Chief Justice of India has formed a three-member committee comprising Mr. Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, Mr. Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, and Ms. Anu Sivaraman, Judge of the High Court of Karnataka, to undertake an inquiry into the allegations against Mr. Justice Yashwant Varma, a sitting judge of the High Court of Delhi.
On the same day, D.K. Upadhyaya, Chief Justice of the Delhi HC, suspended Justice Varma from his judicial duties until further notice.
A notification on the Delhi High Court website stated, "In view of recent developments, the judicial work from Hon'ble Mr. Justice Yashwant Varma is withdrawn with immediate effect, until further orders." Later, the Supreme Court Collegium, led by CJI Khanna, suggested the Centre to transfer Justice Varma back to the Allahabad High Court.
"The Supreme Court Collegium in its meetings on March 20 and 24, 2025, has recommended the repatriation of Mr. Justice Yashwant Varma, Judge of the High Court of Delhi, to the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad," stated a notice from the apex court.
The Supreme Court clarified that the proposal for Justice Varma's transfer to his original High Court, the Allahabad HC, is "independent and separate from the in-house inquiry process."
"The proposal was assessed by the Collegium of the Chief Justice of India and four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court on March 20, 2025, and subsequent correspondence was sent to the consultee judges of the Supreme Court, the chief justices of the relevant High Courts, and Mr. Justice Yashwant Varma. The responses received will be reviewed, and the Collegium will subsequently pass a resolution," the Supreme Court stated in a press release.
The Centre has not yet acted on the Supreme Court Collegium's recommendation to repatriate Justice Varma to the Allahabad HC.
