Lok Sabha forms 3-member committee in Justice Varma Case
On 12-8-2025, the LOK SABHA SPEAKER SHRI ABOUT BIRLA announced the formation of a 3 Member Inquiry Committee to investigate allegations against Justice Yashwant VarmaJudge, Allahabad High Court, under Section 3(2) of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. The Members of the inquiry Committee are as follows:
The Committee has been tasked with conducting a thorough investigation and submit its report in due course. Until then, the motion for Justice Varma’s removal remains pending.
Highlights from the announcement:
On 15-3-2025, at Justice Varma’s official residence, during firefighting operations, authorities reportedly discovered bundles of burnt ₹500 currency notes, which raised suspicions of any misconduct. The Supreme Court, then publicly disclosed certain details of the incident, prompting widespread concern and calls for accountability.
On 21-7-2025, a proposal signed by 146 members of Parliament, including Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad and the Leader of Opposition, was submitted to the Lok Sabha Speaker. The proposal sought the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma, currently serving at the Allahabad High Court, under Article 124(4) read with Articles 217 and 218 of the Constitution of India and Section 3 of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968stating that:
“The House resolves that a recommendation be made to the President to remove the Yashwant Varma, Justice of the Allahabad High Court for his aforementioned misconduct….”
The proposal cited misconduct involving the recovery of unexplained burnt cash from his property and further relied on legal precedents and procedural safeguards to support their case. MPs mentioned that they thoroughly studied:
The laws and landmark judgments helped them establish the seriousness of the allegations and the procedural framework for judicial accountability.
Prior to the parliamentary motion, the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court found the complaint against Justice Varma to be of serious nature and followed the “in-house procedure” as outlined in paragraph 33 of the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Judge ‘X’ case. This led to the initiation of a formal inquiry.
The then Chief Justice of India, after considering the gravity of the situation and Justice Varma’s response, formed a three-member committee as per paragraph 33(3) of the Judge ‘X’ case. The committee was tasked with investigating the allegations thoroughly.
The committee’s report was submitted to the President and the Prime Minister of India. The Chief Justice acted in accordance with paragraph 33(7) of the Judge ‘X’ case and concluded that the findings were serious enough to warrant impeachment proceedings.
With the inquiry committee now in place, the focus shifts to its investigation. The outcome will determine whether the motion for Justice Varma’s removal proceeds to a full debate and vote in Parliament. This case marks a rare and significant instance of judicial scrutiny at the highest levels and could set a precedent for future accountability mechanisms within the Indian judiciary.
MPs emphasized that the judiciary is deemed to uphold the highest standards of integrity and honesty. The alleged recovery of burnt cash from an official residence under Justice Varma’s control, and the circumstances surrounding its removal, pointed toward serious ethical violations. These facts, when viewed in light of the Constitution and the Judges (Inquiry) Act, warranted the initiation of removal proceedings under Article 124 read with Articles 217, and 218.
The proposal urged Parliament to act unanimously and send a strong message of zero tolerance toward corruption in public life. It stressed that every citizen must be assured of the judiciary’s integrity and that Parliament must uphold its commitment to transparency and accountability.
The Speaker after reviewing the proposal and finding it procedurally valid, granted approval for the formation of the inquiry committee, and officially constituted the three-member panel mentioned above.