In a shocking turn of events, reports have surfaced regarding the recovery of a significant amount of unaccounted cash from the official residence of Delhi High Court Judge, Justice Yashwant Varma. This revelation has sent ripples across the legal and judicial community, raising concerns about the integrity of the system.
According to a report by the Times of India, the cash was discovered when fire brigade personnel responded to a fire at the judge’s residence. Justice Varma was not present at the time. While attempting to control the fire, the firefighters stumbled upon stacks of currency notes. They documented the scene through pictures and videos before escalating the matter to their senior officials.
Subsequently, the incident was reported to higher authorities in the government, which then informed the Chief Justice of India (CJI), Sanjiv Khanna.
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In light of the alarming discovery, CJI Sanjiv Khanna convened an urgent meeting of the Supreme Court Collegium on Thursday evening. The agenda was to discuss the implications of the incident and determine the appropriate course of action.
Reports suggest that the Collegium met again on Friday morning. Interestingly, the Supreme Court benches, including that of the CJI and the next four senior judges, commenced proceedings almost 45 minutes late, hinting at the gravity of the matter.
The incident was also brought to the attention of Delhi High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya. Senior Advocate Arun Bharadwaj mentioned the issue in court, highlighting the distress within the legal community.
He remarked:
“Today's incident has pained many of us. Please take some steps on the administrative side so that these incidents do not happen in the future and the truthfulness of the judicial system is maintained… We are shaken and demoralized.”
In response, Chief Justice Upadhyaya acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, stating:
"So is everybody… We are conscious of the…"
Notably, Justice Varma did not preside over court proceedings on the day of the revelation.
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Justice Varma’s Transfer to Allahabad High Court
According to multiple reports, the Supreme Court Collegium has decided to transfer Justice Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad High Court. Justice Varma originally served at the Allahabad High Court before being transferred to the Delhi High Court in 2021.
The Collegium's decision reflects the judiciary’s attempt to uphold ethical standards and prevent further reputational damage. Further actions concerning Justice Varma remain under discussion.
The judiciary and the legal community are closely watching how this unprecedented situation unfolds. The Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendations and the actions taken by the higher authorities will be crucial in restoring faith in the judicial system.
For now, the focus remains on ensuring transparency and accountability while upholding the integrity of India’s judiciary.
Update - Supreme Court Clarifies on Justice Yashwant Verma Issue Amid Delhi HC Inquiry
