Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna has formally communicated with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding Justice Yashwant Varma, currently serving in the Allahabad High Court.
The communication includes the report of a three-member panel constituted by the Supreme Court to investigate allegations related to the discovery of cash at the judge’s official residence during his tenure at the Delhi High Court.
The report, dated May 3, was compiled by the in-house inquiry committee and submitted to the CJI on May 4. Justice Varma’s response to the committee’s findings, dated May 6, was also enclosed in the correspondence sent to the President and the Prime Minister. The Supreme Court confirmed this development in an official statement, noting that the CJI acted in accordance with the in-house procedure that governs inquiries into judicial conduct.
“In terms of the In-House Procedure, the Chief Justice of India has written to the President of India and the Prime Minister of India enclosing therewith a copy of the 3-Member Committee report dated May 3, along with the letter/response dated May 6, received from Justice Yashwant Varma,” the communication stated.
As per established protocol, the CJI forwards the committee’s findings to the executive branch of the government when any potential executive action against a sitting judge is deemed necessary. However, the contents of the inquiry report have not been made public so far.
The internal probe into the matter was initiated after reports emerged of sacks of cash—some partially burned—being discovered at the official residence of Justice Varma on March 14. Responding to the gravity of the allegations, the CJI constituted a three-member committee on March 22 to investigate the incident.
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The committee comprised Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court; Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court; and Justice Anu Sivaraman, Judge of the Karnataka High Court. After concluding its investigation, the committee submitted its findings to the Chief Justice on May 4.
In a controversial development during the inquiry, Justice Varma was transferred from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court and sworn in as a judge there on April 5. The ceremony was held privately rather than in the traditional public setting, attracting widespread criticism. Despite being officially sworn in, Justice Varma has not yet been assigned any judicial or administrative duties, according to court officials.
The timing and manner of Justice Varma’s transfer raised concerns, particularly after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed before the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court. The PIL sought a deferral of his swearing-in ceremony until the conclusion of the ongoing inquiry.
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The legal community has voiced strong opposition to the transfer and appointment. The Allahabad High Court Bar Association issued a scathing letter to the judiciary, denouncing the Collegium's decision and questioning the lack of transparency. “We are not a dumping ground,” the association declared, emphasizing the need for greater accountability in judicial appointments.
Justice Varma’s future role within the Allahabad High Court remains uncertain as the inquiry continues. Legal experts are closely observing the situation, noting its implications for the integrity of judicial institutions and appointment processes in India.
According to the official website of the Allahabad High Court, Justice Yashwant Varma earned his law degree from Rewa University in 1992 and was enrolled as an advocate on August 8 the same year. He primarily practiced civil law and handled cases related to Constitutional Law, Corporate Matters, Taxation, Industrial Disputes, Environmental Law, and other areas. He served as special counsel for the Allahabad High Court from 2006 until his elevation to the bench in 2012.
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