CJI constitutes three-member in-house committee to inquire into allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma
Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna constituted a three-member committee on 22 March 2025 to inquire into allegations against Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, and the Supreme Court made the Delhi High Court Chief Justice's report public.
Summary
The Supreme Court said on 22 March 2025 that the Chief Justice of India had constituted a three-member committee to inquire into allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma, a sitting judge of the Delhi High Court, after cash was allegedly found at his official residence during a fire. The members are Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the Punjab & Haryana High Court; Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court; and Justice Anu Sivaraman, a judge of the Karnataka High Court. The Delhi High Court Chief Justice was asked not to assign any judicial work to Justice Varma for the time being. In an unusual step, the Supreme Court uploaded the Delhi High Court Chief Justice's reports of 21 and 22 March, Justice Varma's response, photographs and a video, with some portions redacted.
Key facts
- Date
- 22 March 2025
- Constituted by
- CJI Sanjiv Khanna
- Members
- Justices Sheel Nagu, G.S. Sandhawalia, Anu Sivaraman
- Judge concerned
- Justice Yashwant Varma, Delhi High Court
- Interim step
- No judicial work to be assigned to Justice Varma
- Made public
- Delhi HC CJ's reports of 21 and 22 March, response, photos, video
Practice MCQs 4 questions
Who constituted the three-member committee on 22 March 2025 to inquire into allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma?
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Correct answer: D — The Chief Justice of India
The Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, constituted the in-house committee, as stated in the Supreme Court's press release of 22 March 2025.
Which of the following was NOT a member of the in-house committee constituted on 22 March 2025 to inquire into allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma?
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Correct answer: D — Justice D.K. Upadhyaya
The members were Justices Sheel Nagu, G.S. Sandhawalia and Anu Sivaraman. Justice D.K. Upadhyaya, Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, had submitted the preliminary report.
What interim step did the Supreme Court announce on 22 March 2025 regarding Justice Yashwant Varma?
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Correct answer: A — The Delhi High Court Chief Justice was asked not to assign him any judicial work
The press release said the Delhi High Court Chief Justice had been asked, for the time being, not to assign any judicial work to Justice Varma.
Consider the following statements: 1. The in-house committee constituted on 22 March 2025 to inquire into allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma had two High Court Chief Justices and one High Court judge. 2. A High Court judge can be removed from office only in the manner provided in Article 124(4) for a Supreme Court judge, as applied by Article 217(1)(b). Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
The committee had two Chief Justices (Punjab & Haryana and Himachal Pradesh High Courts) and one judge (Karnataka High Court). Under Article 217(1)(b), a High Court judge may be removed by the President in the manner provided in Article 124(4) for removal of a Supreme Court judge.