The Supreme Court Collegium on Wednesday decided to recommend the re-appointment of Delhi High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma, to the Allahabad High Court. This decision sparked controversy, raising questions about the reason behind the recommendation.
According to sources, a large amount of cash was recovered from Justice Yashwant Varma’s official residence after a fire broke out there a few days ago. At the time of recovery, Justice Varma was not in the city. The incident was later reported to the Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna. Following this, the Collegium decided to transfer Justice Varma back to the Allahabad High Court.
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Sources reveal that when the fire broke out at the judge’s residence, his family members immediately called the fire brigade and the police. After the fire was extinguished, officials discovered a significant amount of cash inside the damaged room. The recovery was officially documented, and the police informed senior government officials, who subsequently reported the matter to the CJI.
Taking the matter seriously, CJI Khanna promptly convened a meeting of the Collegium to discuss the next steps. The Collegium unanimously agreed that Justice Varma should be transferred out of Delhi without delay and recommended his re-appointment to his native Allahabad High Court.
According to sources, some judges in the Collegium believed that merely transferring the judge would not suffice, as it could damage the judiciary’s reputation and weaken public trust in the institution. Some members suggested that Justice Varma should be asked to resign, and if he refused, an internal inquiry should be initiated by the Chief Justice, potentially leading to impeachment proceedings in Parliament.