In a significant development, the three-member committee constituted by the Supreme Court to inquire into allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma, a sitting judge of the higher judiciary, has submitted its report to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Sunday, May 4, 2025.
The committee, formed in accordance with the in-house procedure adopted by the Supreme Court for dealing with complaints against judges, comprises Mr Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana; Mr Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh; and Ms Justice Anu Sivaraman, Judge of the High Court of Karnataka.
According to the press release issued by the Supreme Court on Monday, May 5, 2025, the committee finalized and submitted its report dated May 3, 2025, to the CJI for appropriate consideration and further action.
The nature of the allegations against Justice Verma has not been officially disclosed.
The Chief Justice of India is expected to examine the findings of the report and determine the future course of action, which may range from closure of proceedings to further steps under the constitutional framework, depending on the committee’s conclusions.
The press release further emphasized the judiciary’s commitment to maintaining institutional integrity and accountability while upholding the dignity of the office held by members of the higher judiciary.
This marks a rare but important instance of internal judicial oversight, reflecting the judiciary’s willingness to subject its own members to scrutiny under established norms.
