Government Transfers Justice Yashwant Varma to Allahabad High Court
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Synopsis
The government has officially transferred Justice Yashwant Varma from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court amid ongoing controversy regarding allegations of burnt cash found at his residence. This decision follows recommendations from the Supreme Court Collegium and is separate from an in-house inquiry currently taking place.
Key Takeaways
- Justice Yashwant Varma transferred to Allahabad High Court.
- Transfer follows controversy over burnt cash discovery.
- Supreme Court Collegium recommended the transfer.
- In-house inquiry against Justice Varma is ongoing.
- Deliberations by various bar associations on the transfer.
New Delhi, March 28 (NationPress) The government issued a notification on Friday regarding the transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma, a judge serving in the Delhi High Court, who is currently at the center of a controversy involving the alleged discovery of a substantial amount of burnt cash in a storeroom linked to his bungalow in the national capital, following a fire incident on March 14.
“In exercise of the authority granted by clause (1) of Article 222 of the Constitution of India, the President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to transfer Shri Justice Yashwant Varma, Judge of Delhi High Court, to serve as a Judge of Allahabad High Court and to instruct him to take charge of his office there,” noted the notification from the Union Ministry of Law and Justice.
Earlier today, a bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan dismissed a plea urging the Delhi Police to file an FIR and undertake an effective investigation into the allegations against Justice Varma. The bench, led by Justice Oka, stated: “The ‘in-house’ inquiry is ongoing. Should the report indicate any wrongdoing, an FIR could be ordered, or the matter might be referred to Parliament. Today is not the appropriate time to consider the registration of an FIR.”
The Supreme Court Collegium, chaired by CJI Sanjiv Khanna, recommended on Monday that the government reassign Justice Varma back to the Allahabad High Court. “The Supreme Court Collegium, during its meetings on 20th and 24th March 2025, has recommended the repatriation of Mr. Justice Yashwant Varma, Judge of the High Court of Delhi, to the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad,” stated an announcement on the Supreme Court's website.
Previously, the Supreme Court clarified that the transfer proposal for Justice Varma, the second most senior judge in the Delhi High Court, to his original High Court — the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, where he will rank ninth in seniority, is “independent and separate from the ongoing in-house inquiry.”
Last week, CJI Khanna established a three-member committee to investigate Justice Varma and directed the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court not to assign him any judicial responsibilities for the time being. On Thursday, representatives from various bar associations convened with CJI Khanna and senior judges of the Supreme Court Collegium, advocating for the reversal of the transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad High Court.
