Supreme Court Refuses Relief to Justice Yashwant Varma in Burnt Currency Case
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday refused to grant any relief to Justice Yashwant Varma, who had challenged the unilateral constitution of an inquiry committee by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to probe allegations related to the recovery of burnt currency at his official residence.
A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and S C Sharma held that the Speaker had committed no illegality in setting up the inquiry committee. The bench observed that Justice Varma was not entitled to any relief and that no interference by the court was warranted in the matter.
Justice Varma had moved the apex court questioning the authority of the Speaker to constitute the committee to examine allegations that burnt wads of currency notes were found at his residential premises in March last year.
The court noted that the inquiry committee was formed in accordance with established procedures and rejected the contention that the Speaker’s action was arbitrary or unlawful.
Justice Varma was earlier repatriated from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court following the incident. The alleged recovery of burnt currency reportedly took place at his official residence in New Delhi on March 14. With this ruling, the Supreme Court has effectively cleared the way for the inquiry committee constituted by the Lok Sabha Speaker to proceed with its examination into the allegations.
