A fire at the official residence of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma from a tax bench led to the discovery of a substantial amount of cash, triggering significant repercussions within the judiciary. The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, has ordered Justice Varma’s immediate transfer to the Allahabad High Court.
Judge Was Out of Town During Fire
At the time of the fire, Justice Varma was reportedly out of town. His family members alerted the fire brigade and police, who, upon extinguishing the blaze, discovered a large sum of cash in one of the rooms. This finding was officially recorded, leading local authorities to escalate the matter to senior government officials, who then informed the Chief Justice.
Supreme Court Collegium Orders Transfer
In response to the revelations, Chief Justice Khanna convened an urgent meeting of the Supreme Court Collegium. The members unanimously agreed to transfer Justice Varma to his parent court, the Allahabad High Court, where he had served before his appointment to the Delhi High Court in October 2021.
Call for Resignation and Possible Inquiry
While the collegium ordered a transfer, some members expressed concerns that this may not be enough to uphold judicial integrity. There were suggestions that Justice Varma should resign, and if he refused, an in-house inquiry should be initiated as a preliminary step toward potential removal by Parliament.
Judicial Integrity Under Scrutiny
This incident has sent shockwaves through judicial circles, raising concerns about the potential erosion of public trust in the judiciary. The proposed in-house procedure, established by the Supreme Court in 1999, involves the Chief Justice seeking a response from the concerned judge. If unsatisfied, the Chief Justice can form a probe panel comprising a Supreme Court judge and two High Court chief justices to conduct a deeper investigation.
Public Confidence at Stake
The discovery of unaccounted cash at a judge’s residence is a rare and serious matter. The judiciary is now under pressure to take swift and decisive action to maintain its integrity and restore public confidence.
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