'Keep some dignity... he is still Justice Verma', what did the lawyer say that made the Supreme Court angry?

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to give an immediate hearing to a petition seeking registration of an FIR against Allahabad High Court judge Yashwant Verma in the cash recovery controversy.

Lawyer Mathews Nedumpara requested the bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran that this is his third petition and it should be listed for hearing soon.

The Chief Justice asked, "Do you want it to be dismissed now?" He said that the petition will be put up for hearing at an appropriate time. The lawyer argued that an FIR should be registered and an investigation should be conducted.

But the bench expressed displeasure over the lawyer addressing the judge as 'Verma'. The Chief Justice said, "Is he your friend? He is still Justice Verma. How are you calling him? Keep some dignity. He is a judge."

Advocate Mathews Nedumpara urged the bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran that this is his third petition and it should be listed for early hearing.

The lawyer insisted that the matter is serious and it needs to be listed. He said, "I don't think there is any greatness in him." On this, the Chief Justice expressed displeasure and said, "Please don't order the court."

Recently, Justice Yashwant Verma filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the report of an internal inquiry committee, which held him guilty in the cash seizure case.

Justice Verma also challenged the May 8 recommendation of former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, which asked Parliament to initiate impeachment proceedings against him.

What did the inquiry committee report say?

A three-judge committee headed by Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Sheel Nagu conducted a 10-day inquiry, questioned 55 witnesses and visited the site of the incident.

Based on this report, former Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna wrote to President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recommending impeachment against Justice Verma.

The inquiry committee report said that Justice Verma and his family members had direct or indirect control over the store room where a huge amount of half-burnt cash was found. This cash was recovered during an accidental fire that broke out at his official residence at 11:35 pm on March 14. Considering this incident as a serious misconduct, the committee recommended his removal.