The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a petition filed by Allahabad High Court Judge Yashwant Varma challenging the constitution of an impeachment inquiry committee against him.
A Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma pronounced the operative part of the verdict, stating that the petitioner was not entitled to any relief.
The court had reserved its verdict last week after hearing detailed arguments from all sides.
Justice Varma had challenged the Lok Sabha Speaker’s decision to constitute a three-member inquiry committee under the Judges Inquiry Act of 1968. His plea was primarily based on procedural grounds. He argued that impeachment notices were moved in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on the same day, and that Speaker Om Birla acted unilaterally without awaiting a decision from the Rajya Sabha Chairman or holding a mandatory joint consultation.
The plea relied on the proviso to Section 3(2) of the Act, which states that when notices are given in both Houses on the same day, an inquiry committee can be formed only after admission of the motion in both Houses through joint action of the Speaker and the Chairman.
The Lok Sabha Secretariat opposed the petition, submitting that the Rajya Sabha did not admit the impeachment motion. It was pointed out that the motion was rejected by the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman on August 11, 2025, following the resignation of then Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar in July.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the proviso was meant only to prevent the formation of two parallel inquiry committees and that admission of a motion is not automatic.
Justice Varma has faced scrutiny since cash was found in an outhouse of his official residence in March 2025. A Supreme Court in-house inquiry later concluded that he exercised secret or active control over the cash. Based on this report, then Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna recommended removal proceedings.