New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a plea by Allahabad High Court judge Yashwant Varma, who had challenged the validity of an in-house inquiry panel’s report that found him guilty of misconduct in connection with a cash recovery incident.
A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and A.G. Masih ruled that Justice Varma’s actions failed to inspire confidence, and therefore, his petition did not merit consideration.
The Court upheld the in-house inquiry process, stating that the committee of judges appointed by the then Chief Justice of India had followed due procedure. It further observed that forwarding the report to the Prime Minister and the President, along with a recommendation for Justice Varma’s removal, did not violate constitutional provisions.
Earlier, the apex court had told Justice Varma that his conduct raised serious concerns and emphasized that the Chief Justice of India is not a mere “post office,” but has an obligation to address judicial misconduct in the interest of the nation.
