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Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has assured bar associations that their demand for reconsidering the transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma will be taken into account.
The assurance came after the presidents of six bar associations met the CJI on Thursday amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the judge.
Justice Varma was repatriated from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court after a large amount of cash was discovered at his residence during a fire incident.
Following this, the Delhi High Court registry withdrew judicial work assigned to him.
The Supreme Court Collegium’s decision to transfer him led to protests by the Allahabad Bar Association, which launched an indefinite strike, asserting that judges facing corruption allegations should not be tolerated.
During the meeting, Allahabad Bar Association chief Anil Tiwari said the CJI assured them that their concerns would be considered.
The bar leaders were also informed that even after his transfer to Allahabad High Court, Justice Varma would not be assigned judicial work. Following this assurance, the striking lawyers said they would reconsider their protest.
The bar associations submitted a memorandum urging the CJI to ensure that corruption is eradicated from the judiciary.
They also questioned why no FIR had been registered in the case despite the incident occurring on March 14.
They warned that if their demands were not met, bar associations from across the country would stage protests.
Earlier this week, the CJI set up a three-member panel to conduct a thorough probe into the incident, which has caused significant concern within legal circles.
Justice Varma, however, denied any wrongdoing, stating that he was being "defamed in the press.
