Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court has resigned abruptly, citing undisclosed reasons in a letter to President Droupadi Murmu. He expressed deep anguish over stepping down from his position as a Judge of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, calling it an honor to have served. The resignation letter was also sent to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant.
The resignation comes amidst controversy surrounding burnt cash allegedly found at an outhouse during Justice Varma’s tenure at the Delhi High Court. Impeachment notices, supported by members from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, were initiated in July 2025. A three-member enquiry committee was formed by the Lok Sabha Speaker to investigate the charges.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court dismissed Justice Varma’s plea challenging the constitution of the enquiry committee. The apex court upheld that the petitioner was not entitled to any relief. Justice Varma had raised procedural concerns regarding the constitution of the panel, emphasizing the need for joint consultation between the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman for such matters.
Challenging the findings of an in-house enquiry committee, Justice Varma questioned the alleged control he had over the recovered cash. The Supreme Court deemed the in-house procedure fair and just, affirming that it did not compromise judicial independence. Following the in-house enquiry report, then Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna recommended removal proceedings, leading to the formation of a parliamentary enquiry committee with revised composition after the retirement of Madras High Court Chief Justice Maninder Mohan Shrivastava.
