We run to the judiciary when people steal, but who do we run to if the judiciary steals?
In March 2025, during a fire outbreak in Justice Yashwant Varma’s house, a shocking discovery took the entire nation by storm. Reportedly, “jute sacks full of cash” were discovered “stashed in a corner of the outhouse” of Justice Varma’s residence.
Other higher officials further investigated this incident, and as a result, Justice Varma, who was serving in the Delhi High Court at the time of the incident, was transferred to his parent court in Allahabad.
This was also followed by the withdrawal of his judicial duties, and it was suggested that an in-house inquiry take place to study the matter further. Further, under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, a motion for his removal was introduced. However, recent developments in the case make all of this seem irrelevant.
The Turning Point
As quoted by Hindustan Times, on April 9, 2026, in a letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, Justice Yashwant Varma wrote, “While I do not propose to burden your august office with the reasons which 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”, thus resigning from his office.
As per Article 217(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, a judge of the High Court may submit his resignation by writing to the President. However, since an inquiry can only be conducted against a judge, this resignation means that all the ongoing inquiries against him effectively come to a halt.
Read More: Which Judges Gave The Draconian Judgement For Sengar’s Release And Aravalli’s Destruction?
Some Similar Precedents
This wasn’t the first time that a judge facing charges has resigned, and such instances show a lot about how the Indian judiciary sometimes functions when confronted.
In a similar case in 2011, Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta High Court submitted his resignation to President Pratibha Patil, five days ahead of his impeachment. Sen had faced charges of misappropriation of funds, and the members of the Rajya Sabha had already passed the motion of impeachment against him.
The Economic Times quotes Sen in his letter addressed to the President, “I am not guilty of any form of corruption. There is no allegation against me that I am guilty of passing any order or judgment for extraneous consideration or that I have abused my power in any way so that my family or relatives or acquaintances have amassed wealth, but sadly I am still facing a motion of impeachment”.
A similar pattern was studied in the case of Justice PD Dinakaran of the Sikkim High Court, who faced charges of land encroachment and court misconduct, following which, impeachment proceedings were initiated against him.
However, he resigned on July 29, 2011, a day before the first sitting of the three-member committee, led by Justice Aftab Alam. His resignation, like in the previous cases, caused the inquiry and impeachment proceedings to come to an end.
What This Means For The Indian Judiciary
Taken together, these cases show a similar pattern. Before being proven guilty or innocent, the judges step down, bringing the impeachment process to an abrupt halt and leaving allegations without a conclusion.
When a judge submits his resignation, under the High Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1954, he is allowed to retain his post-retirement benefits, as against a situation where a judge is impeached. By resigning, Justice Varma, too, might be eligible for a pension that would’ve otherwise been forfeited if he were removed by impeachment.
Three judges. Three resignations on the eve of impeachment. Three sets of serious allegations that were never formally resolved. This isn’t simply a coincidence, but a pattern that suggests there might be scope for change.
When an inquiry comes to an abrupt pause, it takes a toll not only on the system but also on the trust of those who rely on it. So the question is, if the law’s guardians themselves break the law, who is to be held accountable?
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: The Economic Times, Hindustan Times, The Hindu
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This post is tagged under: Justice Yashwant Varma, Indian Judiciary, Judicial Accountability, Judicial Corruption India, Judges Resignation India, Delhi High Court, Allahabad High Court, Judges Inquiry Act 1968, Article 217 Constitution, Judicial Reforms India, Impeachment of Judges India, Soumitra Sen Case, PD Dinakaran Case, Indian Legal System, Judiciary Transparency, Rule of Law India, Legal News India, Court Controversy India, Governance and Accountability, Indian Politics and Law
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