Chief Justice of India B R Gavai Monday took exception to a petitioner addressing Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, caught in a controversy following the discovery of unaccounted money from his official residence, by his last name.
CJI Gavai gave vent to his displeasure as Advocate Mathews J Nedumpara filed a plea for the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Justice Varma over the cash recovery. Seeking urgent hearing of his plea, Nedumpara said in front of the bench, also comprising Justice Vinod Chandran, “This is the third writ petition which I am filing.”
“If you want it to be dismissed right now, I will dismiss it right now,” CJI Gavai said. However, Nedumpara said, “It is impossible to be dismissed. FIR has to be registered.”
Apparently referring to Justice Varma’s petition challenging the report of the in-house inquiry committee, which confirmed the fact of recovery of money, he said, “Now Varma seems to be asking for that only. There has to be an FIR, there has to be an investigation.”
The petitioner, referring to Justice Varma as only Varma, did not go down well with CJI Gavai. “Is he your friend? He is still Justice Verma. How do you address him? Have some decorum in the court. You are referring to a learned judge… He is still a judge of the Court,” said CJI Gavai.
Nedumpara said, “I don’t think that greatness can apply to him. Matter has to be listed.”
The CJI cautioned him, “Don’t dictate to the Court what has to be done.”
“No, I am only requesting,” responded Nedumpara.
