Justice Yashwant Varma refuses to resign, impeachment process to start soon

11-May-2025

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Justice Yashwant Varma, from whose residence a large sum of cash was recovered, has declined to resign as High Court Judge, despite a Supreme Court-appointed in-house enquiry committee confirming the recovery, sources said on May 8.

Subsequently, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna wrote to the President and the Prime Minister, detailing the findings of the enquiry panel, as the process for the judge's impeachment is expected to begin soon, sources said.

According to sources, in his response sent to the Chief Justice, Justice Varma remained defiant and refused to step down from his judicial duty. Chief Justice Khanna then forwarded the enquiry report and a copy of Justice Varma’s response to the President and PM Modi. Under the House enquiry procedure for High Court judges, refusal to resign is the only instance that requires the CJI to write to the President and the PM.