Supreme Court to Hear Judge's Plea Against Probe Amid Impeachment Move
The Supreme Court will hear a plea on Monday from Justice Yashwant Varma, who is challenging the findings of an in-house committee that indicted him in a 'cash-discovery' episode. The hearing is significant as 145 MPs have submitted an impeachment notice against him. Justice Varma alleges the internal probe was predetermined and denied him a fair opportunity to defend himself. The case scrutinises the judiciary's internal accountability mechanisms at a time when a sitting judge faces removal proceedings.
Unpacked:
The 'cash-discovery' episode refers to a large sum of partially burnt cash found at Justice Varma's official residence in Delhi on March 14, 2025, after a fire in an outhouse, while he was serving as a judge of the Delhi High Court.
Impeachment starts with a motion signed by at least 100 Lok Sabha or 50 Rajya Sabha members. If admitted, a three-member committee investigates. If guilt is found, both Houses must pass the motion with a special majority, after which the President issues a removal order.
Justice Varma alleges that the internal committee’s findings were predetermined and that he was denied a fair opportunity to defend himself, questioning the fairness and transparency of the judiciary’s internal accountability mechanisms.
This case highlights the rare scrutiny of a sitting judge through both internal inquiry and parliamentary impeachment, raising questions about transparency, fairness, and the effectiveness of mechanisms to ensure accountability within India’s judiciary.