Overview
- The Supreme Court dismissed Justice Yashwant Verma’s petition, rejecting his challenge to the in-house inquiry and the Chief Justice’s removal recommendation.
- The bench ruled that the internal probe followed established legal procedures and functions only as a preliminary fact-finding step, preserving parliamentary impeachment as the ultimate removal route.
- It held that Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna’s letter to the President and Prime Minister suggesting Verma’s removal was constitutionally sound and fell within his ethical responsibilities.
- The court clarified that judges do not enjoy immunity when allegations are grounded in verified facts, reinforcing accountability within the judiciary.
- Claims that the inquiry inverted the burden of proof and denied Verma a personal hearing were deemed unsubstantiated by the justices.