On Monday, the Supreme Court witnessed a sharp rebuke from Chief Justice B.R. Gavai after lawyer Mathews Nedumpara addressed Allahabad High Court judge Yashwant Varma merely as “Varma” during an urgent hearing plea. Justice Gavai, sitting on the bench alongside Justice K. Vinod Chandran, took strong exception to the informality.
“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 said firmly.
The courtroom atmosphere turned stern as the Chief Justice emphasized that Justice Varma remains a sitting judge despite the allegations against him.
Nedumpara Pushes for FIR in Cash Recovery Case
Nedumpara appeared before the bench urging immediate court intervention in the now-infamous cash recovery case, in which bundles of half-burnt ₹500 notes were found at Justice Varma’s residence following a fire on March 14. The lawyer demanded the registration of an FIR and described the case as a qui tam proceeding — a legal term used when an individual brings action on behalf of the state.
Final Hearing for ‘Justice’ Varma? Political Consensus Seals His Fate
When Nedumpara pressed for urgent listing, Justice Gavai responded sharply,
“Do you want it to be dismissed right now?”
And later added,
“Please don’t dictate to the court.”
Despite Nedumpara’s insistence that “there has to be an FIR, an investigation,” the top court remained cautious in how it approached the sensitive matter.
The Cash, the Fire, and the Findings
Justice Varma, who was serving in the Delhi High Court at the time of the March 14 incident, was later transferred to the Allahabad High Court. A Supreme Court-appointed inquiry committee led by Punjab and Haryana Chief Justice Sheel Nagu investigated the case over 10 days. The panel examined 55 witnesses and concluded that Justice Varma and his family had “covert or active control” over the storeroom where the partially burnt cash was recovered — grounds serious enough to recommend his removal.
Then-Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna formally urged President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate impeachment proceedings. Justice Varma has since challenged the report in court.
Impeachment Gains Cross-Party Momentum
As of July 21, the Monsoon Session of Parliament saw 145 MPs — from both opposition and ruling parties — submit a joint memorandum to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, supporting the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma. The unprecedented bipartisan move included signatures from the BJP’s Anurag Thakur, Congress’ Rahul Gandhi, and Supriya Sule of the NCP, among others.
This would mark the first impeachment of a sitting High Court judge in independent India. Parliament is now expected to deliberate on the matter under Articles 124, 217, and 218 of the Constitution.
With the political tide turning and 145 MPs already on record, it appears increasingly likely that Justice Varma may not remain on the bench for long.