Judicial Panel to Begin Inquiry in Justice Varma Case This Week

Allahabad HC Bar Declares Strike, Seeks Judge's Impeachment

- Utkarsh Anand

NEW DELHI: The in-house committee set up by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna is expected to commence its work this week as the judiciary moves swiftly to address the controversy surrounding the reported discovery of a large amount of cash at Justice Yashwant Varma's official residence in Delhi. According to people aware of the matter, a formal communication was sent to the panel on Monday, enumerating the mandates and remits.

"The committee is expected to commence its work this week, likely Wednesday, for the CJI is of the opinion that the matter needs to be taken to its logical conclusion without any delay," said one of the persons cited above. This person added: "It is usually within 48 hours of the communication from the Supreme Court that the panel commences work."

The three-member panel comprises Justice Sheel Nagu, chief justice of the Punjab & Haryana high court; Justice GS Sandhawalia, chief justice of the Himachal Pradesh high court; and Justice Anu Sivaraman, judge of the Karnataka high court. The committee has been tasked with examining the circumstances surrounding the reported discovery of large amounts of cash at Justice Varma's residence.

Another person added that the three-member committee is likely to conduct its proceedings in Delhi. "The place of occurrence, witnesses, and officers are all from Delhi. It is in all likelihood that the panel will sit in Delhi to carry out its functions efficiently," said this person.