New Delhi: The Supreme Court administration has rejected a plea seeking a report of the in-house enquiry committee, appointed by the top court, in the Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma cash discovery row under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The applicant also sought information regarding then Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna’s communication to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Former CJI Sanjiv Khanna forwarded the report of the apex court-appointed in-house enquiry committee along with the response of Justice Varma to the President and the Prime Minister after Justice Varma refused to resign.
Three-member committee confirmed allegations of cash discovery against Justice Varma
The three-member committee appointed by the top court reportedly confirmed the allegations of cash discovery against Justice Varma in its inquiry report submitted to the then CJI Khanna on May 4 and the former CJI had forwarded the three-member committee report to Justice Varma and had sought his reply.
“Chief Justice of India, in terms of the in-house procedure, has written to President of India and the Prime Minister of India enclosing therewith copy of the three-member committee report dated May 3 along with the letter/response dated May 6 received from Justice Yashwant Varma,” the apex court said in a statement on May 8.
Then CJI appointed a three-member committee on March 22
Then CJI Khanna appointed a three-member committee on March 22 to conduct an in-house inquiry into the allegations of reported discovery of huge stash of burnt cash from Justice Varma’s official Delhi residence following a fire incident at his residence at around 11.35 pm on March 14.
Justice Varma was transferred to Allahabad High Court sans judicial work
Delhi High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya conducted a preliminary inquiry into the alleged discovery of cash at Justice Varma’s official Delhi residence. Justice Varma, who was a judge at the Delhi High Court at that time, repeatedly denied the allegations in his response to the Delhi High Court Chief Justice.
Following the controversy, judicial work was taken away from Justice Varma in the Delhi High Court and he was transferred from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court sans judicial work.
