Judges Inquiry Committee Submits Report on Allegations Against Justice Yashwant Varma to Om Birla

Officials confirmed that the report will be laid before both Houses of Parliament in due course as part of the statutory process.

The Judges Inquiry Committee constituted to investigate allegations concerning Justice Shri Yashwant Varma has formally submitted its report to Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla at Parliament House in New Delhi.

The report was submitted on 18 May 2026 in accordance with the provisions of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, which governs the procedure for investigating allegations against judges of higher constitutional courts in India.

Officials confirmed that the report will be laid before both Houses of Parliament in due course as part of the statutory process.

High-Level Committee Presented Report

The report was formally handed over to the Lok Sabha Speaker by members of the Judges Inquiry Committee, comprising:

• Hon'ble Justice Aravind Kumar, Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Presiding Officer of the Committee

• Hon'ble Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court

• Shri B.V. Acharya, Senior Advocate, Karnataka High Court

The submission marks an important procedural step in the inquiry process established under Indian law for examining allegations involving members of the higher judiciary.

Committee Constituted in August 2025

The Judges Inquiry Committee was constituted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on 12 August 2025 following statutory procedures laid down under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.

Under the Act, such committees are formed to investigate specific allegations against judges of the Supreme Court or High Courts whenever a motion for inquiry is admitted in Parliament.

The committee's role is to examine evidence, conduct proceedings, and determine whether the allegations under investigation are substantiated.

Report to Be Tabled in Parliament

According to officials, the inquiry report will now be laid before both Houses of Parliament — the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha — in accordance with legal and parliamentary requirements.

The report's submission is part of a constitutionally defined process intended to ensure accountability within the higher judiciary while maintaining judicial independence and procedural fairness.

Further parliamentary proceedings, if any, will follow the procedures outlined under the Constitution and the Judges (Inquiry) Act.

Judges (Inquiry) Act Governs Judicial Accountability Process

The Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 provides the legal framework for investigating allegations of misconduct or incapacity against judges of constitutional courts in India.

Under the law:

• A motion signed by Members of Parliament may be introduced

• The presiding officer may admit the motion

• A three-member inquiry committee is constituted

• The committee investigates allegations and submits findings

• Parliament then considers the report for further action if required

The process is designed to balance judicial independence with institutional accountability.

Significance of the Inquiry Process

The submission of the report reflects the functioning of India's constitutional mechanisms for addressing allegations involving members of the judiciary through a structured legal and parliamentary process.

Legal experts note that such inquiries are significant because they involve:

• Judicial accountability

• Constitutional procedures

• Parliamentary oversight

• Institutional integrity of the judiciary

The outcome of the process will now depend on subsequent parliamentary procedures after the report is formally tabled before both Houses.