Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has began the process to remove Allahabad High Court judge, justice Yashwant Varma who was at the centre of a cash row.
On Thursday, CJI Khanna wrote to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and shared the report of the Supreme Court-appointed three-member panel which inquired into the discovery allegations against Justice Varma, reported PTI.
The CJI also shared the response of Justice Varma along with the panel’s report.
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“Chief Justice of India, in terms of the in-house procedure, has written to the President of India and the Prime Minister of India enclosing therewith a copy of the three-member committee report dated May 3 along with the letter/response dated May 6 received from Justice Yashwant Varma,” said the Supreme Court in a statement.
As per the report, the CJI previously forwarded the panel report to Justice Varma and sought his response following the principle of natural justice.
The panel that submitted the report to CJI included three members –Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice G S Sandhawalia and Justice Anu Sivaraman of the Karnataka High Court.
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Proceedings To Remove Justice Varma
In his letter to the President and Prime Minister, the CJI flagged the seriousness of allegations of recovery of cash at the judge’s residence. He said that it warrants initiation of proceedings for his removal under the Constitution, reported Hindustan Times.
The enquiry committee confirmed in its report that cash was found at the residence of Justice Varma which was discovered after a fire broke out at his residence in Lutyen’s Delhi on March 14. The huge bundles of burnt cash were discovered by fire service officials and police engaged in dousing the flames. Justice Varma was a sitting Delhi High Court judge when the cash was found.
A video of the half-burnt currency notes, recorded by the police, quickly went viral on social media prompting the Supreme Court to initiate action against Justice Varma including his transfer to Allahabad High Court.
However, as per the HT report, Justice Varma has stuck to his earlier position denying recovery of cash in his response to the enquiry report.
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