CAMPAIGN FOR JUDICIAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND REFORMS
6/6 basement, Jangpura B, Delhi – 110014
judiciareforms@gmail.com, judicialreforms.org
Executive Committee: Prashant Bhushan (Convenor), Cheryl D’souza (Secretary), Nikhil Dey, Alok Prasanna Kumar, Venkatesh Sundaram,Indu Prakash Singh, Anjali Bhardwaj, Amrita Johri, Annie Raja, Beena Pallical, Siddharth Sharma, Indira Unninayar, Vijayan MJ, Vipul Mudgal ,Koninika Ray, Meera Sanghamitra, Prasanna S, Sai Vinod, Apar Gupta, Anurag Tiwari Prashant Bhushan (Convenor), Cheryl D’souza (Secretary), Nikhil Dey, Alok Prasanna Kumar, Venkatesh Sundaram, Indu Prakash Singh, Anjali Bhardwaj, Amrita Johri, Annie Raja, Beena Pallical, Siddharth Sharma, Indira Unninayar, Vijayan MJ, Vipul Mudgal,Koninika Ray, Meera Sanghamitra, Prasanna S, Sai Vinod, Apar Gupta, Anurag Tiwari
CJAR STATEMENT CALLING FOR REGISTRATION OF FIR AGAINST JUSTICE (RETD.) YASHWANT VARMA
20th August 2026
The Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reform (CJAR) welcomes the tabling of the report of the Inquiry Committee constituted to inquire into the conduct of Justice (Retd.) Yashwant Varma, in relation to the burnt cash found at his official residence. CJAR notes that the Inquiry Committee has found all three Articles of Charge against the Judge to be proved on the basis of the material placed before it. CJAR also supports the decision of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha to table the report on the floor of the House, notwithstanding the purported resignation of Justice (Retd.) Varma. We believe that this move promotes transparency and ensures a measure of accountability for the actions of Justice (Retd.) Varma. We are happy to note the speaker undoing the unfortunate precedent set in the case of Justice P. D. Dinakaran wherein impeachment proceedings were brought to an end merely because the judge concerned resigned.
CJAR had earlier issued a statement welcoming the decision taken by then Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna, to place in the public domain important information on the allegations regarding discovery of cash at Justice Yashwant Varma’s residence. That disclosure quelled rumour mongering. Transparency in handling serious allegation of corruption or misconduct is indispensable to public trust in the higher judiciary – an institution whose functioning has too often been marked by opacity.
Though Justice Varma has resigned, we are surprised that the Allahabad High Court website continues to show him as a sitting judge. We call upon the High Court to change this detail and avoid confusion.
After his resignation Justice Varma ceases to enjoy the protection of the Veeraswami judgement and therefore, there is no requirement of permission of the Chief Justice of India for resignation of an FIR against him. However, since the investigative authorities have not registered any FIR yet, in light of the Inquiry Committee’s report and the report of the threejudge committee constituted under the in-house procedure, we call upon the Chief Justice of India to direct the filing of a First Information Report with the Delhi Police seeking an investigation into the unaccounted cash found at the residence of Justice (Retd.) Varma. We believe that the three charges proved against Justice Varma, are not just “misconduct” for the purposes of removal of the judge, but also basis to begin criminal proceedings. It is now incumbent upon the police to question the source of the cash, establish who disposed it of and how, and if other crimes were conducted in this process.
We believe only a full and proper police investigation into the actions of Justice Varma, overseen by the Supreme Court, will adequately restore the public’s confidence in the judiciary.
CJAR statement calling for Regisration of FIR against Justice Yashwant Varma.pdf
