The Supreme Court on Monday declined to urgently hear a petition demanding the registration of an FIR against Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court, in connection with the controversial cash recovery incident.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran turned down the request by advocate Mathews Nedumpara, who claimed it was his third petition related to the matter and urged the court for immediate listing.
“Do you want it to be dismissed right now?” Chief Justice Gavai asked pointedly, making it clear that the petition would be listed in due course.
CJI Rebukes Advocate Over Courtroom Decorum
The hearing quickly turned tense when the advocate referred to Justice Varma without his title. The bench took strong exception to the lack of respect shown toward a sitting judge.
“Is he your friend? He is still Justice Varma. How do you address him? Have some decorum. You are referring to a learned judge,” the CJI remarked.
Despite the admonition, Nedumpara persisted, insisting that an FIR must be registered based on the misconduct findings of the inquiry report.
“I don’t think that greatness can apply to him. Matter has to be listed,” the lawyer responded defiantly, prompting the Chief Justice to caution, “Please don’t dictate to the court.”
Justice Varma Challenges Inquiry Panel Findings
The plea for urgent listing came as Justice Varma himself moved the Supreme Court recently, seeking to nullify an internal inquiry report that found him guilty of serious misconduct. The report stems from an incident where a large amount of half-burnt cash was discovered at his official residence following a fire on March 14, 2024.
A three-judge in-house inquiry panel, led by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, investigated the matter over 10 days. The panel examined 55 witnesses and visited the site of the incident before concluding that Justice Varma and his family had either direct or covert control over the location where the cash was found.
The panel’s report, submitted on May 8, led then Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna to recommend Justice Varma’s removal, writing to both President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate impeachment proceedings.
With the Supreme Court yet to hear Justice Varma’s petition, the government is expected to table a motion seeking his removal during the Monsoon session of Parliament, which begins on July 21.
The case has stirred significant attention, raising questions about accountability within the higher judiciary and the rare, high-stakes process of impeaching a sitting High Court judge.
(Inputs By Sambhav Sharma)
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