Overview
The three‑member Judges Inquiry Act panel, headed by Supreme Court Justice Aravind Kumar, concluded that all charges against Justice Yashwant Varma are proved. The panel’s report was placed in both Houses of Parliament and sent for further legal action.
Key Developments
- May 2025: Panel submitted its findings to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
- March 14, 2025: A fire at Justice Varma’s official residence revealed a large cache of burnt cash in a storeroom.
- July 2025: Over 200 MPs moved a motion to impeach the judge.
- August 2025: The panel was constituted by Speaker Birla.
- August 2026: The Supreme Court dismissed a petition seeking a SIT probe into the matter.
Important Facts
The in‑house committee set up by former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna found that Justice Varma had "active or tacit control" over the storeroom where the cash was hidden. Following the controversy, Varma resigned from the Delhi High Court and was repatriated to his parent bench, the Allahabad High Court. His resignation has not yet been formally notified by the Law Ministry, as the President’s acceptance is required for official notification.
Exam Relevance
This case illustrates several constitutional and administrative concepts that are frequently asked in GS‑2 (Polity):
- Impeachment of judges and the role of Parliament in judicial accountability.
- The procedure for a judge’s resignation, which becomes effective once the President formally accepts it, highlighting the interplay between the executive and the judiciary.
- The functioning of a