SC Dismisses Justice Yashwant Varma’s Plea Against Inquiry Report, Impeachment Process Set to Begin in Parliament

New Delhi, August 7, 2025 — The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a petition filed by Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court, who had challenged the findings of an in-house inquiry committee and the recommendation made by former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna for initiating impeachment proceedings against him.

A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih refused to entertain Justice Varma’s contention that he was denied a fair opportunity to respond during the internal probe process. The three-judge panel, set up under the in-house mechanism of the Supreme Court, had submitted its report after a controversial incident involving Justice Varma earlier this year.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appeared on behalf of Justice Varma. During an earlier hearing on July 28, the apex court had grilled Sibal on why his client did not challenge the constitutionality of the committee before appearing before it. The bench sharply questioned the timing of the plea, observing that Justice Varma chose to participate in the process, only to dispute it after the verdict went against him.

“There have been instances where judges have refused to appear before such panels. If your client thought the procedure was flawed, why did he participate? You’re a constitutional authority—you can’t plead ignorance. You should have approached this Court at the right time,” the bench told Sibal.

The case stems from an incident on March 14, when a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s residence in Delhi. Firefighters allegedly recovered bundles of cash from the premises. At the time, Justice Varma was serving on the Delhi High Court and was not present at his residence.

Meanwhile, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed that the motion to remove Justice Varma from office would be introduced in the Lok Sabha, as per due procedure. He emphasized that the impeachment process would be a unified effort involving all political parties.

“The removal of Justice Yashwant Varma must be a collective decision. The motion will first be tabled in the Lok Sabha and then in the Rajya Sabha. This is not just a government move but the duty of the entire Parliament,” Rijiju told reporters.

The minister underscored the broader significance of the move, noting that Parliament must take joint responsibility in maintaining the integrity of the judiciary. “This is about accountability. We must stand united when it comes to addressing corruption within the judiciary,” he added.

With the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the plea and the government’s confirmation of parliamentary action, Justice Varma’s removal process is expected to formally begin soon.