Justice Varma Cash Row: The Supreme Court on Thursday declined the plea of Justice Yashwant Varma of Allahabad High Court challenging the valiof in-house three-judge inquiry committee’s report. The toup court said Justice Varma’s conduct does not inspire confidence, so his plea should not be entertained.
The dismissal of Justice Varma’s plea seeking invalidation of a report by an in-house inquiry panel is a big blow to the High Court Judge as the in-house inquiry found him guilty of misconduct in the cash discovery row. On basis of the report, then Chief Justice Of India Sanjiv Khanna recommended the impeachment proceedings against him.
The Supreme Court had earlier told Justice Varma that his conduct did not inspire confidence and also defended the CJI’s authority to act on any judicial misconduct, saying he cannot be merely a “post office but has certain duties to the nation.
SC Questions Justice Yashwant Varma Over His Petition
Earlier on July 28, the top court questioned Justice Varma over his plea seeking invalidation of a report by an in-house inquiry panel. A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and AG Masih quizzed Justice Varma over the parties made in the petition and said he should have filed an in-house inquiry report with his plea.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Justice Varma, submitted that there is a process under Article 124 (the Establishment and constitution of the Supreme Court), and a judge can’t be a subject matter of public debate.
(With PTI inputs)