Justice Yashwant Varma has declined to step down from his post at the Allahabad High Court following the discovery of large sums of money in his official residence in Delhi, asserting that the inquiry process leading to calls for his removal was “fundamentally unjust”. This decision marks the latest chapter in a controversy centred on a fire at his Delhi residence on 14 March, when officials discovered stacks of partly burnt cash during emergency operations.
A Supreme Court‑appointed in‑house panel concluded that substantial currency—approximately 1.5 ft stacks—was found in a storeroom over which Justice Varma and his family held exclusive access, and that he failed to offer a credible account of the funds. The panel’s report was submitted in early May to Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, who, after receiving Varma’s refusal to resign, forwarded the dossier along with the judge’s response to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, triggering the formal impeachment procedure.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has confirmed that a motion for removal could be introduced in the forthcoming Monsoon session, running from 21 July to 12 August, and that a cross‑party consensus will be crucial given the constitutional requirement for a two‑thirds majority in both Houses. Meanwhile, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association has welcomed the move as “a victory for the public,” urging lawmakers to lend their support.
Legal experts note that resignation at this stage would allow Justice Varma to retain pension and retirement benefits, whereas a parliamentary removal would result in forfeiture of these entitlements. In his written rebuttal to the CJI, Varma accused the inquiry of conspiracy and defended his family’s innocence, challenging the legitimacy of the in‑house process.
Adding complexity, petitioners seeking a First Information Report against Varma were told by the Supreme Court that the matter remains within the judicial accountability domain and that their plea was premature; the court urged them to first petition the President and the Prime Minister.
Justice Varma’s tenure spans service at Allahabad High Court since 2014, a period at the Delhi High Court from October 2021 to April 2025, and his recent return to Allahabad, where he resumed duties in April but was stripped of judicial work pending the inquiry.
As parliamentary deliberations loom, the Opposition is pressing the government to share detailed findings of the in‑house investigation. Party leaders indicate that their support will hinge on the severity of the evidence presented.
The unfolding saga has thrust judicial accountability under intense public scrutiny. Rare in India’s legal history, impeachment proceedings against a judge evoke questions about transparency, fairness of inquiry mechanisms and the balance between independence and accountability within the judiciary.
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