The Chief Justice of India (CJI) has constituted an in-house inquiry committee to investigate allegations of misconduct against Justice Yashwant Varma, following the recovery of large sums of cash from his residence during a fire-control operation.
Supreme Court’s In-House Inquiry Procedure:
- Adopted in 1999, made public in 2014
- CJI reviews complaints against High Court or Supreme Court judges to determine if an inquiry is necessary.
- If warranted, a three-member committee is formed, comprising:
- For High Court judges: Two Chief Justices of other High Courts & one High Court judge
- For Chief Justices of High Courts: One Supreme Court judge & two Chief Justices of other High Courts
- For Supreme Court judges: Three Supreme Court judges
Possible Outcomes of Inquiry:
- If not serious, the judge is informed accordingly.
- If serious, the judge is asked to resign.
- If refuses to resign, the President & PM are informed for Parliament to initiate removal proceedings as per Constitutional provisions.
(Source: TH)
