Justice Yashwant Varma, Embroiled in Cash Controversy, May be Asked to Resign

New Delhi: The three-judge in-house committee constituted by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna to inquire allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma, the then sitting judge of Delhi high court, in whose official residence cash was reportedly discovered after a fire incident, is learnt to have found the allegations credible.

Sources told The Wire that the CJI, who was handed over the report of the panel comprising chief justices of the Punjab & Haryana high court Sheel Nagu, chief justices of the Himachal Pradesh high court GS Sandhawalia and Karnataka high court Judge Anu Sivaram, after discussing the issue with his senior brother-judges in the apex court, could even ask Justice Varma to tender his resignation.

The three-judge committee was constituted on March 22 under the in-house procedure adopted by a full court of the Supreme Court in 1999.

In an unprecedented move, CJI Khanna, who retires on May 13, had also decided to make public the report of Delhi high court Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya about the issue. 

The report also contained the response submitted by Justice Varma with regard to the allegation that burnt currency was discovered at a storehouse situated within the premises of the official bungalow allotted to him.

Within days of the committee being constituted, he was transferred back to his parent high court of Allahabad and has not been allotted any judicial work since then.

Whether Justice Varma puts in his papers or decides to fight back remains to be seen.

However, sources told The Wire that his continuation as a judge of the high court has “become untenable” and that if he refuses to resign, if asked to do so, could force the CJI’s hand. If the judge concerned refuses to resign, the CJI could ask the President and the Prime Minister and recommend further action, including initiation of an impeachment motion.