'Still A Judge': CJI Gavai Raps Advocate For Not Saying 'Justice' Yashwant Varma

Last Updated:July 21, 2025, 12:35 IST

CJI BR Gavai reprimanded advocate Mathews J Nedumpara for referring to Justice Yashwant Varma as only 'Varma' amid a case seeking an FIR against him.

Justice Yashwant Varma (Image: X)

Chief Justice of India BR Gavai on Monday objected to advocate Mathews J Nedumpara addressing Justice Yashwant Varma, who is caught up in the controversy related to the discovery of cash notes at his official residence, as only “Varma".

CJI Gavai argued that Justice Varma was still a judge of the High Court, and that he had to be addressed as a “Justice."

The development came after Nedumpara mentioned an urgent listing writ petition, seeking the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Justice Varma.

“This is the third writ petition," Nedumpara said.

“You want it to be dismissed right now?" CJI Gavai asked in response.

“It is impossible to be dismissed. FIR has to be registered. Now Varma seems to be asking for that only. There has to be an FIR, an investigation," Nedumpara responded, referring to the writ petition filed by Justice Varma himself challenging the in-house proceedings.

“Is he your friend? He is still Justice Verma. How do you address him? Have some decorum. You are referring to a learned judge. He is still a judge of the court," CJI Gavai said, as he corrected Nedumpara.

“I don’t think that greatness can apply to him. Matter has to be listed," Nedumpara responded.

“Don’t dictate to the court," CJI Gavai shot back.

In March this year, Nedumpara had filed a first writ petition, which was dismissed by the Supreme Court the same month, observing that the in-house inquiry proceedings were going on.

He later filed another writ petition, after the then CJI Sanjiv Khanna forwarded the in-house inquiry report to the President and the Prime Minister.

In May, the Supreme Court disposed of the said writ petition, asking Nedumpara to first approach the central government authorities for the FIR.

A fire incident at Justice Varma’s Lutyens’ Delhi residence in March, when he was a judge of the Delhi High Court, had led to the discovery of sacks of half-burnt cash in the outhouse.

Justice Varma was subsequently repatriated to the Allahabad High Court, but no judicial work was assigned to him.

Though Justice Varma denied any wrongdoing, the inquiry panel has concluded that the judge and his family members had covert or active control over the storeroom, where the cash was found, proving his misconduct serious enough to seek his removal.

ALSO READ | ‘Unified Stand Of Parliament’: Kiren Rijiju On Impeachment Motion Against Justice Varma

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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