Withdrawal of Justice Yashwant Varma from Inquiry Proceedings

1. Overview

Justice Yashwant Varma, a Judge of the Allahabad High Court, has officially withdrawn from the proceedings of the Judges Inquiry Committee and submitted his resignation to the President of India. This decision follows a protracted inquiry into allegations concerning the recovery of cash from his official residence.

2. Background of the Inquiry

• Triggering Incident: The recovery of cash from a storeroom at Justice Varma's official residence following a fire in March 2025.
• Impeachment Motion: Over 100 Lok Sabha MPs moved a motion for his impeachment, leading the Lok Sabha Speaker to constitute a three-member committee under the Judges Inquiry Act, 1968.
• Committee Composition:

• Justice Aravind Kumar (Supreme Court of India)
• Justice Shree Chandrashekhar (Chief Justice, Bombay High Court)
• Senior Advocate BV Acharya

• Legal Challenge: Justice Varma previously challenged the constitution of this committee before the Supreme Court, though the challenge was unsuccessful.

3. Key Arguments for Withdrawal

In a 13-page communication to the Committee, Justice Varma cited several reasons for his withdrawal, characterizing the process as "unfair":

A. Reversal of Burden of Proof

Justice Varma contended that the inquiry shifted the burden of proof onto him, requiring him to disprove allegations regarding cash that had never been evidentiary linked to him.

B. Procedural Irregularities

• Witness Handling: He alleged that 27 out of 54 witnesses—including officials from Delhi Police and Delhi Fire Services—were dropped without explanation after their testimony reportedly contradicted the prosecution's narrative.
• Lack of Evidence: He argued the proceedings relied on presumptions rather than concrete evidence.

C. Context of the Incident

Justice Varma maintained that the fire occurred while he and his spouse were in a remote location with limited connectivity during the Holi break. He asserted he was unaware of the cash until well after the fire was controlled.

4. Resignation and Conclusion

Parallel to his withdrawal, Justice Varma has resigned from his post as a Judge of the Allahabad High Court. He concluded his communication by stating that continuing with the inquiry would be a "disservice" to himself and the judiciary, expressing hope that posterity would judge the fairness of how a sitting High Court judge was treated.

5. Timeline of Events

Date	Event
March 2025	Fire at official residence; alleged discovery of cash.
2025	Impeachment motion moved by 100+ MPs; Committee formed.
2025	Supreme Court dismisses challenge to Committee's constitution.
April 2026	Justice Varma resigns and withdraws from inquiry.