Justice Yashwant Varma Resigns From Allahabad HC, Halting Rare Impeachment Proceedings In Parliament

Justice Yashwant Varma resigns from the Allahabad High Court, bringing to an end the parliamentary removal inquiry under the Judges Inquiry Act 1968 and concluding questions over unaccounted cash recovered in Delhi. The resignation stops further proceedings while leaving an incomplete record for accountability reviews.

The resignation of Justice Yashwant Varma from the Allahabad High Court has ended an ongoing parliamentary inquiry into alleged unaccounted cash found at an official residence in Delhi in March 2025. The move stops rare removal proceedings against a sitting high court judge, which had been underway in Parliament under a detailed statutory process.

Officials familiar with the matter confirmed that Justice Yashwant Varma submitted the resignation to President Droupadi Murmu through a formal letter dated April 9. The development follows months of scrutiny over cash recovered after a fire and a subsequent in-house examination by the Supreme Court that had questioned the adequacy of Justice Yashwant Varma’s explanation.

Allahabad High Court resignation halts Judges (Inquiry) Act proceedings

By stepping down, Justice Yashwant Varma has effectively brought to an end the proceedings initiated under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. Under this law, the parliamentary mechanism for removal stops functioning once a judge leaves office, so the inquiry committee can no longer continue work linked to the Allahabad High Court judge.

The impeachment process against the Allahabad High Court judge began after a motion seeking Justice Yashwant Varma’s removal was admitted in the Lok Sabha in August 2025. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla then set up a three-member committee to investigate the charges, following notices that had been moved in both Houses in July 2025.

Allahabad High Court controversy over unaccounted cash and inquiry delays

Justice Yashwant Varma came under scrutiny after allegations that burnt bundles of unaccounted currency were recovered from an official residence in Delhi following a fire in March 2025, when Justice Yashwant Varma was serving on the Delhi high court. The issue soon moved beyond administrative review and triggered discussions on judicial accountability beyond the Allahabad High Court.

An internal inquiry by the Supreme Court later concluded that Justice Yashwant Varma’s account of the incident was not satisfactory. On that basis, then Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna advised the executive to act, leading to Parliament starting removal proceedings, which eventually involved the Allahabad High Court judge in one of the few such cases.

The inquiry committee under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 saw its own delay when member MM Shrivastava retired before completing the task. Speaker Om Birla had to reconstitute the panel in February, effectively restarting the process required by law. Justice Yashwant Varma’s resignation now closes that chapter without a final report on the Allahabad High Court judge.

Justice Yashwant Varma’s letter to the President expressed distress at leaving the Allahabad High Court but did not give reasons. “While I do not propose to burden your august office with the reasons that have constrained me to submit this missive, it is with deep anguish that I hereby tender my resignation from the office of Judge of the Hon'ble High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, with immediate effect,” the letter stated.

The letter further recorded Justice Yashwant Varma’s reflection on the role held at the Allahabad High Court, saying, “It has been an honour to serve in this office.” With the resignation accepted, the parliamentary process under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 ends, leaving the allegations, investigation steps and incomplete committee proceedings on record without a conclusive finding.