The SC on Friday rejected a petition by Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, who had challenged the formation of a parliamentary inquiry panel investigating allegations of unaccounted cash at his official residence. A two‑judge bench, headed by Justices Dipankar Datta and S.C. Sharma, said there was no legal flaw in the committee’s constitution and dismissed the plea.
Justice Varma had argued that, according to the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, a committee could only be formed after motions were admitted in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. He claimed the Speaker overstepped by forming a panel without the Rajya Sabha Chairman’s approval. The Supreme Court, however, disagreed, stating that the Speaker acted within the law and no judicial intervention was required.
The controversy dates back to March 2025, when a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s Delhi residence, revealing large amounts of burnt and unburnt cash. An internal investigation and a three-member in-house Supreme Court panel found the allegations credible, prompting motions for impeachment in Parliament.
Justice Varma has maintained his innocence, saying he was not present during the fire and was unaware of the cash. His petition focused on procedural issues, arguing that the parliamentary panel’s formation was invalid because the Rajya Sabha motion had not been formally admitted.
The Supreme Court held that the process followed by Parliament was proper and balanced the rights of judges with Parliament’s oversight role. It clarified that the non‑admission of the Rajya Sabha motion did not invalidate the inquiry, clearing the way for the Lok Sabha committee to continue its probe.
With the apex court’s decision, Parliament can now proceed with its investigation into the cash recovery and any possible misconduct. The ruling is seen as a key moment in judicial accountability, highlighting the balance between a judge’s rights and the legislature’s authority to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.
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