Justice Varma case: Supreme Court sets up special bench; CJI Gavai recuses himself | India News

Burnt pieces of a currency note seen among debris near the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma, in New Delhi (left), and Justice Yashwant Varma.

NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on Wednesday recused himself from hearing a petition filed by Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad high court. The petition challenges an in-house committee report that found Justice Varma guilty in connection with the recovery of a large amount of unaccounted cash from his official residence in Delhi. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned the matter before the Supreme Court and requested an urgent listing of the petition. “This is in respect of his removal… we’re requesting to list it as early as possible,” Sibal said. The Chief Justice told Sibal that he would not hear the case as he was involved in the process related to Justice Varma’s transfer to the Allahabad high court after the matter came to light. “It will not be possible for me to take up this matter because I was also part of the committee. We will list it,” the CJI said, as quoted by Bar and Bench. “I will have to constitute a bench,” CJI said.The CJI was heading a bench which also comprised Justices K Vinod Chandran and Joymalya Bagchi. Justice Varma has approached the top court seeking a declaration that the recommendation by former CJI Sanjiv Khanna for his removal be declared unconstitutional and ultra vires. The case relates to the recovery of a large quantity of cash from an outhouse in Justice Varma’s official residence in Delhi on March 14. The cash was found during a fire-fighting operation at the premises. At the time, Justice Varma was serving as a judge of the Delhi high court. The Central government is reportedly planning to bring an impeachment motion in Parliament to remove Justice Varma from office.