‘This Petition Shouldn’t Have Been Filed’ - Supreme Court Slams Its Own Judge
New Delhi(The Uttam Hindu): In a rare and striking move, the Supreme Court of India has taken strong exception to a petition filed by one of its own judges, Justice Yashwant Varma. The judge had approached the apex court seeking the annulment of an internal investigation report related to a cash recovery controversy. The internal probe, constituted by a former Chief Justice of India, had reportedly found Justice Varma at fault, prompting him to challenge the committee's findings in court.
The matter was heard on Monday by a bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Augustine George Masih. The bench expressed sharp disapproval, stating that the petition itself was inappropriate. They noted that the relief sought in the petition directly questioned the authority of the Supreme Court’s internal disciplinary framework. Furthermore, the bench questioned why the internal report, which was the subject of challenge, had not been submitted with the petition.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Justice Varma, argued that under Article 124 of the Constitution, judicial conduct cannot be debated publicly. He emphasized that no media or public commentary should be allowed in matters involving judges' conduct. However, the court remained unconvinced and posed pointed questions regarding Justice Varma’s decision to participate in the committee proceedings in the first place, implying that the move to file a petition may have stemmed from dissatisfaction with the outcome.
The episode has sparked serious debate about internal accountability mechanisms within the judiciary. The Supreme Court's candid and stern response suggests a strong commitment to preserving the credibility of its own processes while also emphasizing that internal discipline must not be undermined—even by those within its highest ranks.
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