Senior Advocate Adish Aggarwala, former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), has called for a comprehensive inquiry by the Supreme Court Collegium into the allegations against Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma.
He also emphasised the need for clarity on the legal provisions that allow the formation of an in-house committee to investigate allegations of this nature.
The Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, convened on Thursday evening and decided to transfer Justice Yashwant Varma back to his parent court, the Allahabad High Court, following an adverse report concerning the alleged recovery of cash from his residence after a fire incident.
Aggarwala, speaking mediapersons, stated that while the decision to transfer Justice Varma was not inherently problematic, the matter still warranted a thorough investigation. He emphasised that transfers are a routine administrative measure and should not be considered a stigma.
However, he pointed out that the circumstances surrounding the case, including the fire and video evidence, raised suspicions, especially since the judge and his family were not present at the time of the incident.
Meanwhile, senior advocate Vikas Singh, also a former SCBA president, strongly advocated for an in-house inquiry, asserting that if Justice Varma could not provide a credible explanation for the discovered cash, the matter needed to be addressed with utmost seriousness.
He highlighted the public trust in the judiciary and warned that incidents like these could erode confidence in the judicial system. Singh also expressed concerns that merely transferring the judge would not resolve the issue and stressed that an independent investigation should be the priority.
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Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, while clarifying that he was not privy to the exact details of the case, underscored the broader issue of corruption within the judiciary. He pointed out that allegations of judicial corruption have surfaced repeatedly over the years and that the matter was of grave concern.
Sibal suggested that the Supreme Court should re-evaluate its judicial appointment process to ensure greater transparency and accountability. He further noted that corruption is not confined to the judiciary but is a pervasive issue across society, despite government claims of tackling it effectively.
The Supreme Court Collegium has stated that it will take further action against Justice Yashwant Varma if necessary. According to sources, the Collegium acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and emphasized that the transfer process was only a preliminary step in addressing the issue.
Additional measures could be undertaken based on further developments.
As per standard procedure, the Collegium’s resolution on the matter has not yet been published on the Supreme Court’s official website.
Justice Yashwant Varma was appointed as a judge of the Allahabad High Court on October 13, 2014. He later took oath as a judge of the Delhi High Court in October 2021. The ongoing controversy and the Collegium’s decision to transfer him have intensified discussions on judicial accountability and transparency in India’s legal system.
Also Read: SC collegium moves to transfer Delhi HC judge in cash row
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