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Informist, Friday, Apr. 10, 2026

 

--Allahabad HC judge Varma, at centre of cash-at-home row, resigns 

 

NEW DELHI – Justice Yashwant Varma has resigned from the Allahabad High Court, a year after a huge amount of cash was recovered from his residence after a fire broke out there in March. In his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Justice Varma said, "While I do not propose to burden your august office with the reasons which have constrained me to submit this missive, it is with deep anguish that I hereby tender my resignation from the office of Judge of the Hon'ble High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, with immediate effect.".

 

In May 2025, a three-member in-house committee appointed by the Supreme Court had submitted its report to then chief justice of India Khanna, following its investigation into allegations that a large amount of cash was found at Justice Varma's residence after a fire broke out there. Thereafter, former chief justice Khanna recommended to the president to initiate removal proceedings against him.

 

Thereafter, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had in August formed a three-member panel to probe Justice Varma. The panel comprised Supreme Court Justice Aravind Kumar, Madras High Court Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, and senior advocate B.V. Acharya. Accepting the motion signed by 146 members of Parliament for the removal of Justice Varma, Birla had said, "The committee will submit its report as early as possible." 

 

Last year, the top court had rejected Varma's petition against the in-house committee's report that indicted him. The top court also upheld former chief justice of India Khanna's recommendation to President Droupadi Murmu to initiate proceedings against Justice Varma for his removal as a judge. 

 

Earlier this year, the apex court had rejected Justice Varma's plea challenging the legality of the committee formed by Lok Sabha Speaker Birla to conduct an inquiry into corruption allegations against him for his removal. Challenging the process adopted for the formation of the panel, Varma had argued that despite the notices for removal being moved in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, Speaker Birla had proceeded to constitute the committee on his own, without awaiting the Rajya Sabha chairman's decision on admission of the impeachment motion or holding the mandatory joint consultation prescribed by law.  End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Avishek Dutta

 

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