Bundles of burnt cash were found after a fire broke out in the warehouse of Justice Yashwant Varma’s official residence in the state capital on March 14. Photo: www.allahabadhighcourt.in via PTI Photo
The Supreme Court on Tuesday (December 16, 2025) agreed to hear a plea by Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma challenging the constitution of an inquiry committee by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha to probe corruption allegations against him.
The inquiry committee comprises Supreme Court Justice Aravind Kumar, Madras High Court Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Karnataka High Court Senior Advocate BV Acharya.
A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih issued notices to the office of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Secretaries General of both Houses and sought their replies.
The matter is referred for further hearing on January 7, 2026.
Bundles of burnt cash were found after a fire broke out in the warehouse of the judge’s official residence in the state capital on March 14.
The Supreme Court was hearing a plea filed by Justice Varma challenging the legality of a three-member committee composed entirely of Lok Sabha under the procedure laid down in the Judicial Inquiry Act.
“Make an appropriate writ, order or direction declaring and setting aside the impugned action dated 12th August, 2025 of the Hon’ble Speaker of the Lok Sabha in constituting the Hon’ble Committee under Section 3(2) of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 as unconstitutional, violative of 1217 of the Constitution and Articles 2124 of the Constitution of India, 1950, and in contravention with the procedure laid down by law under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968,” the suit said.
Counsel for Justice Varma said that the introduction of a motion regarding his impeachment in both Houses of Parliament mandates that the constitution of the three-member committee must be made jointly by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and not unilaterally by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
Under the Judges (Inquiry) Act 1968, once a motion for the removal of a judge is passed in one of the Houses, the Speaker, or as the case may be, the Speaker, forms a committee of three to inquire into the grounds on which the removal (or impeachment, colloquially) is sought.
Published – 16 Dec 2025 14:00 IST
