Chief Justice of India BR Gavai on Tuesday recused himself from hearing a petition filed by Justice Yashwant Varma challenging the in-house inquiry proceedings and recommendation for his removal. The CJI, who was part of prior discussions, stated it would not be appropriate for him to hear the case. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, mentioning the matter, urged early listing, to which the CJI responded that a suitable Bench would be constituted.
Justice Varma has challenged the process as violative of natural justice, asserting that the inquiry lacked a formal complaint, denied him a hearing, and created an extra-constitutional mechanism bypassing Articles 124 and 218.