New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a petition by the Allahabad High Court’s Justice Yashwant Varma challenging an in-house inquiry report on unaccounted cash found at his home. The court said that the inquiry had legal sanction and did not violate Varma’s fundamental rights. Varma had challenged the recommendation made by former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna to impeach him in the unaccounted cash row.
A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and AG Masih had reserved its judgement on his petition on July 30. The bench had remarked that Varma’s conduct did not inspire confidence, as he only moved the top court after the in-house committee came out with adverse findings against him. The court had asked him why he did not challenge the committee at the outset if he believed it was unconstitutional.
Cash was allegedly recovered at Varma’s official residence in Delhi when emergency services responded to a fire there on March 14. He was a judge at the Delhi High Court at that time. Amid the row, he was transferred to the Allahabad High Court. The report of the in-house inquiry committee into the matter, released on May 3, concluded that there was sufficient substance in the charges against Varma.
Significantly, a bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and AG Masih held that the constitution of the in-house committee and the inquiry procedure followed by it was not illegal. The CJI and the in-house committee scrupulously followed the process except uploading photos and video, and we have said it was not required.
But nothing turned on it because you did not challenge it then, the Supreme Court said. We have held that CJI sending letter to the Prime Minister and President was not unconstitutional. We have made certain observations where we have kept it open for you to raise proceedings if needed in the future, the court further said.
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