Overview

• Chief Justice B.R. Gavai recused himself citing prior involvement and the Supreme Court has agreed to form a fresh bench to hear Justice Varma’s petition.
• Justice Varma’s July 17 plea seeks to invalidate the in-house committee’s May 3 findings and the May 8 recommendation for his removal as unconstitutional.
• An in-house panel appointed in March found prima facie misconduct after firefighters uncovered burnt cash at Varma’s Delhi residence and urged Parliament to initiate removal proceedings.
• During the Monsoon Session, 149 Lok Sabha and 63 Rajya Sabha members filed formal impeachment notices under Articles 124 and 218, triggering the statutory removal process.
• Varma contends that the Supreme Court’s internal inquiry lacks statutory backing, reverses the burden of proof and usurps Parliament’s exclusive authority to remove judges.