To dispel rumors regarding the recent developments involving Delhi High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Verma, whose residence was allegedly subjected to a cash recovery, the Supreme Court has officially clarified the situation.
The following key clarifications have been made:
In-House Inquiry Initiated by Delhi HC CJ: The Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court commenced an in-house inquiry before the Supreme Court Collegium meeting on March 20, 2025. The Delhi HC CJ is set to submit a report to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) today, following which further action will be determined.
Proposed Transfer of Justice Yashwant Verma: Pending the inquiry, Justice Verma is proposed to be transferred to the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad. His continued presence at Delhi HC might affect the investigation. However, the Supreme Court has clarified that this transfer proposal is separate from the in-house inquiry process.
Read Also:- Delhi High Court Judge Faces Supreme Court Collegium Review Over Cash Discovery
Collegium’s Next Steps: The Supreme Court Collegium has sought responses from Justice Verma, the Chief Justices of Delhi HC and Allahabad HC regarding the proposed transfer. Once these responses are examined, the Collegium will proceed with passing a formal resolution.
Supreme Court’s Official Statement:
"There is misinformation and rumors being spread with regard to the incident at the residence of Mr. Justice Yashwant Varma."
The Supreme Court emphasized that the in-house inquiry mechanism, as prescribed in the landmark case C. Ravichandran Iyer v. Justice A.M. Bhattacharjee (1995) 5 SCC 457, is fully operational and available for reference on the Supreme Court’s official website. Additionally, this procedure was explained in detail in Additional District and Sessions Judge 'X' v. Registrar General, High Court of Madhya Pradesh (2015) 4 SCC 91.
Read Also:- Supreme Court Clarifies on Justice Yashwant Verma Issue Amid Delhi HC Inquiry
Upon receiving information about the matter, the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court promptly initiated the in-house inquiry, gathering evidence and relevant materials. The inquiry commenced before the Supreme Court Collegium met on March 20, 2025. The report will be submitted to the Chief Justice of India today, March 21, 2025, for further examination and appropriate action.
The Supreme Court further clarified:
"The proposal for transfer of Mr. Justice Yashwant Varma, who is the second senior-most judge in the Delhi High Court and a member of the Collegium, to his parent High Court i.e., the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, where he will be ninth in seniority, is independent and separate from the in-house enquiry procedure."
On March 20, 2025, the Supreme Court Collegium, consisting of the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most judges, deliberated on this transfer proposal. Letters were then sent to the relevant consultees, including Supreme Court judges, Chief Justices of the concerned High Courts, and Justice Verma himself. The Collegium will carefully evaluate the responses received before making a final decision.
