SC to hear Justice Yashwant Varma’s plea against panel report July 28

The Supreme Court will hear on July 28 a petition filed by Allahabad High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma, challenging the validity of the in-house inquiry that recommended his removal. The bench, comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and A.G. Masih, will take up the matter.

Justice Varma’s petition contests the inquiry led by then CJI Sanjiv Khanna, which concluded that unaccounted, half-burnt cash was discovered in a fire-damaged storeroom at his Delhi residence in March 2025. The former CJI had submitted the committee's report to the Prime Minister and President after Justice Varma declined to resign.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Justice Varma, argued that the in-house mechanism bypasses constitutional provisions, branding it an “extra-constitutional” method that undermines the exclusive role of Parliament under Articles 124 and 218 and the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.

CJI B.R. Gavai’s readiness to examine the petition judicially comes shortly after MPs in both Houses moved a formal removal motion against Justice Varma.