A Supreme Court-appointed inquiry panel has recommended removal proceedings against Justice Yashwant Varma, a sitting judge of the Allahabad High Court and former judge of the Delhi High Court, over serious misconduct allegations.
🔍 Key Allegations & Findings:
- A large amount of half-burnt cash was discovered after a fire incident on March 14, 2025, at his official residence in New Delhi.
- The cash was located in a storeroom at 30 Tughlak Crescent, under the active or covert control of Justice Varma and his family, according to the panel.
- The panel cited deliberate removal of evidence on March 15, based on witness testimony and electronic evidence.
- The misconduct violated the “Restatement of Values of Judicial Life” (1997), holding judges to the highest ethical standards.
👩⚖️ Inquiry Panel Members:
- Chief Justice Sheel Nagu (Punjab and Haryana High Court)
- Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia (Himachal Pradesh High Court)
- Justice Anu Sivaraman (Karnataka High Court)
📜 Next Steps:
- A 64-page report recommending impeachment has been submitted by former CJI Sanjiv Khanna to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- If accepted, it may lead to a rare impeachment of a sitting High Court judge in India.
