The controversy surrounding the cash recovery case at the residence of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma has intensified, with six High Court Bar Association heads writing to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, seeking a stay on his transfer.
The Bar leaders, representing the Gujarat High Court, Kerala High Court, Karnataka High Court, Lucknow Bar Association, and Allahabad High Court, among others, urged the CJI to ensure accountability and transparency in the investigation. They also demanded that the report by Delhi High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyay be made public.
CJI Meets Bar Association Leaders
In response to the growing concerns, CJI Khanna met the representatives of the Bar Associations in Delhi. The letter from the Bar heads emphasized that all administrative duties of Justice Varma should be withdrawn, in addition to the judicial work that has already been removed.
The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has strongly opposed the transfer of Justice Varma back to his parent court, following his de-rostering by the Delhi High Court. If the transfer order is not withdrawn, the Bar leaders have warned of further action, including a meeting in Allahabad to express solidarity with the Allahabad High Court Bar Association.
Supreme Court’s Inquiry Committee to Probe Allegations
A three-member in-house committee, appointed by the Supreme Court, is set to meet Justice Varma this week to investigate the allegations. Ahead of this inquiry, the judge has sought legal counsel from senior advocates Siddharth Aggarwal, Maneka Guruswamy, Arundhati Katju, and advocate Tara Narula.
The probe was initiated after reports surfaced that “four to five semi-burnt sacks of Indian currency notes” were found at Justice Varma’s residence on March 14, following a fire incident. However, Justice Varma has firmly denied the allegations, asserting that neither he nor his family members had ever stored cash in their home.
The findings of the inquiry committee will be crucial in determining the next course of action in this high-profile case, which has sparked intense debates over judicial accountability and transparency.
Sources By Agencies
