CJI recuses himself from hearing Justice Varma’s plea against panel report in unaccounted cash row

Chief Justice BR Gavai on Wednesday recused himself from hearing a petition filed by Allahabad High Court judge Yashwant Varma, who has challenged the in-house inquiry committee report that indicted him in the unaccounted cash row, Bar and Bench reported.

The matter was mentioned before Gavai by advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared for Varma and sought an urgent listing of the matter.

Varma’s petition raises constitutional issues, Bar and Bench quoted Sibal as saying while requesting the matter to be listed as early as possible.

The chief justice said that it would not be possible for him to hear the matter because he was also “a part of the committee”, Bar and Bench reported. He added that he will constitute a bench and list the matter for hearing, The Hindu reported.

Gavai was likely referring to his involvement in the process of initiating the in-house inquiry during the tenure of Sanjiv Khanna, the chief justice at the time. The court had set up a three-member committee to look into the allegations against Varma.

The development on Wednesday came as the process to impeach Varma has been set in motion in the Monsoon Session of Parliament. On Monday, 149 Lok Sabha members and 63 Rajya Sabha members signed two separate notices seeking his removal.

To impeach a judge in Parliament, a removal motion is required to be signed...

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