CJI FORWARDS INQUIRY REPORT ON JUSTICE YASHWANT VARMA TO PRESIDENT & PM:

Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, has officially forwarded to the President of India and the Prime Minister the detailed report submitted by a three-judge panel that carried out an in-house inquiry into serious allegations concerning Justice Yashwant Varma of the High Court. The inquiry was triggered by reports regarding the alleged recovery of unauthorised cash currency notes from Justice Varma’s official residence—an incident that raised significant concerns within the judiciary.

The three-member committee, constituted under the in-house procedure of the Supreme Court to examine such matters involving members of the higher judiciary, conducted a thorough assessment of the circumstances and evidence surrounding the case. Their findings and conclusions have now been placed before the highest executive offices of the nation for their examination and possible further action, if warranted. In addition to the panel's report, Chief Justice Khanna has also enclosed the formal response submitted by Justice Varma, offering his explanation and stance with respect to the allegations. This comprehensive communication signifies the conclusion of the internal fact-finding process, and its transmission to the President and the Prime Minister marks a critical juncture in the handling of the matter, underscoring the judiciary’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and constitutional propriety.

"Chief Justice of India, in terms of the In-House Procedure, has written to Hon'ble the President of India and Hon'ble the Prime Minister of India enclosing therewith copy of the 3-Member Committee report dated 03.05.2025 along with the letter/response dated 06.05.2025 received from Mr Justice Yashwant Varma," said the Supreme Court in a Press Release.

The forwarding of the inquiry report to the President of India is a significant development, strongly indicating that the allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma have, prima facie, been found to possess credibility. According to the established in-house procedure of the judiciary, if the internal committee concludes that the allegations have merit, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) is expected to advise the concerned judge to either resign or opt for voluntary retirement. Should the judge decline to do so, the CJI is duty-bound to escalate the matter by writing to the President and the Prime Minister, thereby recommending further action, including the initiation of removal proceedings in accordance with Article 124(4) read with Article 218 of the Constitution of India.

The in-house committee to probe the matter was constituted by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna on March 22, following alarming reports of the accidental discovery of a large quantity of unaccounted cash from a store-room located in the out-house of Justice Varma’s official residence. The incident came to light during a firefighting operation. At the time of the discovery, Justice Varma was serving as a sitting judge of the Delhi High Court. In the wake of the controversy, he was subsequently transferred to the Allahabad High Court, which is his parent High Court. In addition, the Chief Justice of India issued directions for the withdrawal of all judicial work assigned to Justice Varma, pending further inquiry.

The decision to initiate the in-house inquiry was based on a preliminary report submitted by Justice DK Upadhyay, Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, who opined that the gravity of the situation warranted a more comprehensive investigation. The report underscored the seriousness of the allegations and led to the formation of the three-judge panel.

In his written response to the Delhi High Court Chief Justice, Justice Varma strongly denied the allegations. He maintained that he had no involvement in the storage of any cash, asserting that the store-room in question was not under lock and was accessible to support staff. Furthermore, he stated that he was not in Delhi at the time the firefighting operation took place. Dismissing the allegations as baseless, he described the entire episode as a "conspiracy to frame" him.

In an unprecedented gesture aimed at enhancing transparency and public confidence in the judiciary, the Supreme Court took the step of uploading the relevant documents related to the incident on its official website. These include the inquiry reports, visual evidence such as photographs and videos capturing the burning of the cash, and other related materials. This move is seen as part of a broader effort to demonstrate the judiciary’s commitment to openness and accountability, particularly in matters involving allegations against members of the higher judiciary.