CJI Gavai Recuses from Justice Yashwant Verma's Case

Chief Justice of India Justice B.R. Gawai on Wednesday recused himself from hearing a petition filed by Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Verma. The petition challenges the report of an in-house inquiry committee, which found Justice Verma guilty in the alleged "cash recovery" controversy. CJI Gavai told senior advocate Kapil Sibal that he cannot hear the case as he was part of the committee that selected Justice Verma. He also said that it would be necessary to constitute a new bench to list the case.

This remark came when Kapil Sibal, through Justice Verma, sought an early settlement of the matter. Sibal said that constitutional issues have been raised in the petition, so its early hearing is necessary. The bench headed by the Chief Justice also comprised Justice K. Vinod Chandran and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. Justice Verma also sought the revocation of the recommendation made by former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on May 8, in which he had urged Parliament to initiate impeachment proceedings against him.

Justice Yashwant Verma was a judge of the Delhi High Court when a fire broke out at his official residence on March 14 at around 11:35 pm. After the incident, the information about the recovery of cash from the spot gave rise to controversy. As a result, a three-member committee was formed under the chairmanship of Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, which investigated for 10 days, questioning 55 witnesses and also inspecting the spot. Based on the committee's report, the then Chief Justice Justice Sanjiv Khanna recommended impeachment against Justice Verma to Parliament on May 8.