Why wait until now to challenge inquiry, SC asks Justice Varma

The Supreme Court on Monday questioned Justice Yashwant Varma's (pictured) timing of petition challenging the in-house inquiry panel report — which found him guilty of misconduct after recovery of cash from his residence — asking why he waited until Monday to challenge the procedure that was adopted post the discovery of half-burnt currency notes.

- BHAVINI MISHRA

"Did you take a chance of a favourable finding? You are a constitutional authority. You cannot say I don't know," the judges told senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared for Varma, now a judge with Allahabad High Court.

Varma, who was a judge of the Delhi High Court when the cash was found, told the court that former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna's recommendation, which was based on the three-judge inquiry report, cannot be the basis to remove him.