Justice Yashwant Varma Resigns Amid Impeachment Proceedings

New Delhi, April 2026 : In a significant development within the Indian judiciary, Yashwant Varma has resigned from his position as a judge of the Allahabad High Court with immediate effect. His resignation, addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, comes amid ongoing impeachment proceedings, marking a sudden end to his tenure.

In his resignation letter, Justice Varma expressed deep anguish over his decision but chose not to disclose the reasons behind it. “I do not propose to burden your august office with the reasons which have constrained me to submit this missive,” he wrote, adding that it had been an honour to serve as a judge of the High Court.

A copy of the letter was also sent to the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, indicating the gravity of the development within judicial circles.

Justice Varma had been under intense scrutiny following a controversy that erupted in March 2025, when burnt cash was allegedly discovered in an outhouse at his official residence during his tenure at the Delhi High Court. The incident triggered widespread concern and led to formal impeachment notices being introduced in Parliament in July 2025.

The impeachment motion received substantial backing, with 145 members of the Lok Sabha and 63 members of the Rajya Sabha supporting the move. Acting under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, the Lok Sabha Speaker constituted a three-member enquiry committee to investigate the allegations.

Justice Varma challenged the formation of this committee in the Supreme Court, arguing that proper procedural norms were not followed. He contended that simultaneous impeachment notices in both Houses of Parliament required joint consultation between the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha before initiating an inquiry.

However, the Supreme Court dismissed his plea earlier this year. A Bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma ruled that the petition lacked merit and denied him any relief.

In addition to this, Justice Varma had also challenged the findings of an in-house inquiry committee set up by the Supreme Court. The panel had concluded that he exercised “secret or active control” over the cash allegedly recovered from the premises. This challenge was also rejected by the apex court, which held that the internal inquiry process was fair and did not undermine judicial independence.

Following the in-house report, former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna had recommended the initiation of removal proceedings. This eventually led to the formation of a parliamentary enquiry committee, although its composition was later revised after the retirement of a senior judge.

Justice Varma’s resignation now brings an abrupt halt to the impeachment process, closing a contentious chapter that had raised serious questions about judicial accountability and institutional integrity.