Supreme Court Questions Allahabad High Court Judge’s Action

• Supreme Court questions Allahabad High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma’s opposition to the in-house inquiry procedure initiated by former Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna.

• Varma’s move against the procedure was deemed “unpalatable” after the probe’s outcome became unpalatable.

• The in-house procedure was recommended by then Chief Justice Khanna and forwarded to the President and Prime Minister in May.

• Justices Datta and A.G. Masih argue the procedure fills a “yawning gap” and Varma cannot call it “illegal” once he submits to the in-house panel.

• Senior advocate Kapil Sibal argues that Articles 124 (4) and (5) and Article 218 provide a complete mechanism for judge removal.