38.6c New Delhi, India, Friday, August 08, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Judiciary

'In-house inquiry on; all options open,' SC refuses to consider plea for FIR against Justice Varma

By Jhanak Sharma      28 March, 2025 04:45 PM      0 Comments
In house inquiry on all options open SC refuses to consider plea for FIR against Justice Varma

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday declined to consider a plea for a direction to the police to register an FIR against Delhi High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma, saying in-house was inquiry on and all courses are open.

Justice Varma has been in the eyes of storm over alleged discovery of unaccounted money during the fire incident at his official residence here on the night of March 14-15.

SC Rejects Plea for FIR Against Justice Varma Amid Ongoing In-House Inquiry

Dealing with a PIL for FIR against him, a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said once in-house inquiry is complete, all courses are open, if required, the Chief Justice of India can direct the registration of the FIR.

"We have seen the prayer why should we go into this at this stage," the bench asked petitioner in person advocate Mathews J Nedumpara.

Justice Yashwant Varma Case: Supreme Court Says All Options Open Post-Inquiry

The court said since in-house inquiry is going on, it would not be appropriate at this stage to entertain this writ petition.

The petitioner said the investigation is not the job of the country and the common man keeps on asking why no FIR was registered on March 14, why money was not seized and why Delhi Fire Chief said no money was recovered.

The bench said there are already two or three judgements laying down the mechanism on the issue.

"So if you represent the common man somebody has to educate the command man," the bench said.

The petitioner said when there is a conflict between the judgment and the statute, the statute must prevail. He contended the Veeraswami judgment is against the Criminal Procedure Code.

He contended the three-member judges' committee was without any jurisdiction.

The court, however, declined to consider the plea.

"After in-house inquiry is over several options are open. If the report indicates that something is wrong. The Chief Justice of India can direct registration of an FIR. He can refer the matter to the Parliament (for impeachment). Today, it is not the day to go into this question (regarding registration of an FIR). The internal inquiry is in progress. Today, it is not a time to consider this,” the bench said.

The PIL was filed jointly by three lawyers Nedumpara, Hemali Suresh Kurne, Rajesh Vishnu Adrekar and a Chartered Accountant, Mansha Nimesh Mehta. It made Justice Varma, CBI, ED, Income Tax and member of judges committee as parties to the matter.

It contended that the observations in the judgment of the Supreme Court in K Veeraswami Vs Union of India (1991) prohibiting that no criminal case shall be registered against a judge of a High court or Supreme Court without the prior permission of the Chief Justice of India is one rendered per incuriam and sub silentio.

The petitioners claimed that the three-member committee constituted by the Chief Justice of India on March 22 has no jurisdiction to conduct a probe into the incident, constituting various cognisable under the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita).

It also said that the decision investing the committee the power to conduct such an investigation is one rendered void ab initio inasmuch as the Collegium cannot confer jurisdiction upon itself to order so where the Parliament or the Constitution has conferred none.
 



Share this article:

About:

Jhanak is a lawyer by profession and legal journalist by passion. She graduated at the top of her cl...Read more

Follow:
FacebookTwitterLinkedinInstagram


Leave a feedback about this
Related Posts
View All

Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations

After A.K. Bassi, another CBI officer who was investigating corruption allegations against Special Director Rakesh Asthana moved the Supreme Court.

Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land

SC bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi has allotted the dispute site to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, while directing the government to allot an alternate 5 acre land within Ayodhya to Sunni Waqf Board to build a mosque.

Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi

The court guided all states to document their response to the commission's report within four weeks. If any of the states fail to file a response, it will be presumed that they have no objections to the recommendations made by the commission, the court said.

Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts

On April 18, 2020, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended new Chief Justices for three High Courts. Justice Dipankar Datta was proposed as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, succeeding Justice B.P. Dharmadhikari. Justice Biswanath Somadder was nominated as Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, while Justice Mohammad Rafiq was recommended for transfer as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court.

TRENDING NEWS

in-house-procedure-had-legal-sanctity-sc-dismisses-justice-varmas-plea-against-recommendation-for-removal
Trending Judiciary
'In-house procedure had legal sanctity,' SC dismisses Justice Varma's plea against recommendation for removal

SC upholds in-house probe into Justice Varma, dismisses his plea against removal; says process is legally valid and judge’s conduct lacked credibility.

07 August, 2025 12:05 PM
sole-testimony-of-victim-even-without-medical-evidence-sufficient-to-uphold-rape-conviction-sc
Trending Judiciary
Sole testimony of victim even without medical evidence sufficient to uphold rape conviction: SC [Read Judgment]

SC: Victim’s sole testimony, even without medical evidence, sufficient to uphold rape conviction if found credible and consistent.

07 August, 2025 03:11 PM

TOP STORIES

bengaluru-court-convicts-ex-mp-prajwal-revanna-in-rape-case
Trending Judiciary
Bengaluru court convicts ex MP Prajwal Revanna in rape case

Bengaluru court convicts ex-MP Prajwal Revanna in rape case linked to explicit videos; one of four sexual abuse cases filed against him.

04 August, 2025 11:07 AM
sc-sets-aside-order-declaring-man-as-juvenile-on-basis-of-school-certificate
Trending Judiciary
SC sets aside order declaring man as juvenile on basis of school certificate [Read Judgment]

SC: School certificate from private school not valid proof of age, sets aside order declaring murder accused as juvenile.

04 August, 2025 11:24 AM
hp-may-vanish-in-thin-air-god-forbid-sc-on-ecological-imbalance-in-himachal-pradesh
Trending Judiciary
‘HP may vanish in thin air, God forbid', SC on ecological imbalance in Himachal Pradesh [Read Order]

SC warns HP may vanish due to ecological imbalance; seeks state’s action plan amid rising disasters, deforestation, and climate change threats.

04 August, 2025 11:31 AM
sc-grants-4-weeks-time-to-centre-to-frame-guidelines
Trending Judiciary
SC grants 4 weeks time to Centre to frame guidelines to ensure pedestrians right to use footpath

SC gives Centre 4 weeks to frame guidelines ensuring pedestrians’ right to obstruction-free, accessible footpaths under Article 21.

04 August, 2025 11:41 AM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email