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  Kiren Rijiju Initiates Cross-Party Consultations on Impeachment Motion In a politically significant development, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has reportedly initiated discussions with various political parties to garner support for an impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma, currently serving at the Allahabad High Court. This follows allegations linked to the discovery of “burnt cash” in a storeroom at his official residence during his tenure as a judge of the Delhi High Court.  In-House Inquiry Committee Report Submitted The Supreme Court had previously formed a three-member in-house inquiry committee under the leadership of Justice Sheel Nagu (Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court), Justice GS Sandhawalia (Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court), and Justice Anu Sivaraman (Judge, Karnataka High Court). The committee submitted its findings on May 3, 2025, to the then Chief Justice of India, Justice Sanjiv Khanna. The inquiry wa...

  In a significant development in the ongoing controversy surrounding alleged cash recovery from a High Court judge's residence, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna has formally communicated with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This communication includes the report of the Supreme Court-appointed inquiry committee and a response from Justice Yashwant Varma, currently serving in the Allahabad High Court. Background of the Case On March 14, 2025, reports emerged regarding the alleged discovery of partially burned sacks of cash at the official residence of then-Delhi High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma. The allegations sparked a major controversy within judicial and legal circles, prompting the Supreme Court to take swift internal action. On March 22, 2025, the Chief Justice of India constituted a three-member inquiry committee under the in-house procedure to investigate the allegations. The panel comprised: Justice Sheel Nagu , Chief Just...

Supreme Court Issues Notice to Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in CBI’s Plea Against Acquittal in 2002 Murder Case Overview of the Case The Supreme Court of India has issued a notice to Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh , the self-styled godman and Dera Sacha Sauda chief, along with four other individuals, in connection with the 2002 murder of Ranjit Singh , the sect's former manager. This notice comes in response to a plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging their acquittal by the Punjab and Haryana High Court . The High Court’s judgment had overturned the trial court’s conviction of the accused, leading the CBI to appeal the acquittal. Supreme Court Proceedings On January 5, 2025 , a bench led by Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar sought responses from the accused, including Gurmeet Ram Rahim , and tagged the matter with another pending appeal filed by the complainant, the father of the deceased, Ranjit Singh. The case is scheduled to be he...

Justice Sanjiv Khanna Sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India: Key Milestones and Achievements In a significant ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on November 11, 2024, Justice Sanjiv Khanna was sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI) by President Droupadi Murmu. A legal stalwart with a career spanning over three decades, Justice Khanna has contributed to the judiciary with remarkable judgments and decisions on critical issues. Here’s an in-depth look at his career and the ceremony that marked his elevation to the top judicial post. The Swearing-In Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan The oath-taking ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan was attended by several prominent figures, including Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, and other Union Cabinet ministers. The gathering of key dignitaries, retired judges, and former Chief Justices underscored the event’s importance and the profound respect f...

The Curious Case of a Missing Man Found Alive: Supreme Court to Examine Police Custody Mystery In a case that reads more like the plot of a Bollywood thriller , the Supreme Court is currently examining a curious incident where a man presumed dead for 14 years  after allegedly escaping police custody was found alive . The case, dating back to 2005 , has raised questions about police misconduct, wrongful detainment, and an alleged conspiracy involving the Punjab Police . Background of the Case: The Disappearance and "Death" The saga began in August 2005 , when Hardeep Singh was arrested by Punjab Police under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) from Ludhiana. The very next day, the police claimed that Hardeep Singh had escaped from custody . A First Information Report (FIR) was registered under Section 224 of the IPC  against him, which deals with the escape of a person from lawful custody. His father, Naginder Singh , filed a habeas corpus petition , i...

Constitutional Provisions for Appointment of Chief Justice of High Courts The appointment of Chief Justices of High Courts in India is governed by several constitutional provisions and guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court Collegium . The Constitution of India , particularly Articles 217 and 222 , outlines the framework for the appointment of Judges and Chief Justices  of High Courts. In conjunction with these, the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) , developed based on various Supreme Court rulings, plays a crucial role in guiding the appointment process. Article 217: Appointment of High Court Judges Article 217 of the Constitution lays down the qualifications and procedure for the appointment of Judges to High Courts . According to this Article: - A Judge of a High Court , including the Chief Justice , is appointed by the President of India . - The President consults with the Chief Justice of India (CJI) , the Governor of the respective state , and sometimes the Chief Justice of ...

Supreme Court Dismisses Appeal in the Dispute Over Trust Property of Kamakala Kameshwarar Temple On September 13, 2024 , the Supreme Court of India dismissed the civil appeal in Civil Appeal No. 8374 of 2024 , involving the dispute over the ownership and title of a trust property related to the Kamakala Kameshwarar Temple . The appeal, filed by Sri Siddaraja Manicka Prabhu Temple , challenged the judgment passed by the Madras High Court on October 26, 2017 , which had upheld the decision that the disputed property was trust property and not under the absolute ownership of the appellant. Background of the Case The case revolves around the ownership of an immovable property adjacent to the Kamakala Kameshwarar Temple (referred to as the "suit property"). This property, along with the temple, was originally owned by Rai Raja Eswardoss Diawanth Bahadur , whose son and grandson, T. Lakshmidoss and T. Venkataprasad , were declared insolvents by the Madras High Court in 1914 . A...

CJI Chandrachud Suggests Continuation of Judicial Work Despite Bar Member's Demise Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud has proposed reconsidering the practice of ceasing judicial work for the rest of the day when a member of the Bar passes away. His suggestion came during the bicentennial celebrations of the Bar Library at Calcutta High Court. Re-thinking Judicial Work Stoppage CJI Chandrachud emphasized the importance of maintaining judicial work despite the unfortunate demise of Bar members. He highlighted that while respecting the deceased is essential, the broader societal impact of halting judicial proceedings should also be considered. "Should we be ceasing work because a member of the Bar has passed away? Of course, we respect our friends, our colleagues, and our seniors; sometimes, unfortunately, they are our peers who have passed away untimely. Do we need to affect the wider society at large?" he questioned. Personal Experience Sharing his personal experi...