In a significant move, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) has called for the impeachment of Delhi High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma. The resolution was passed during a spirited meeting on Monday, where the association also voiced its firm opposition to the Supreme Court Collegium’s proposal to transfer Justice Varma to the Allahabad High Court.
The call for impeachment follows the recent discovery of unaccounted cash at an outhouse of Justice Varma’s residence last week, an incident that came to light following a fire. This has led to serious allegations of corruption against Justice Varma, who has denied these claims, suggesting a conspiracy to tarnish his reputation.
The Chief Justice of India (CJI) responded by initiating an in-house inquiry on March 22, appointing a panel of three High Court judges to investigate the matter. While the HCBA acknowledged this step, it expressed concerns that such measures are insufficient, as judges overseeing their peers could lead to potential conflicts of interest and biases.
Today, the Collegium released an official statement recommending Justice Varma’s transfer to the Allahabad High Court, a move that has been met with strong resistance from the HCBA. The association emphasized that the Allahabad High Court “is not a dumping ground for corrupt and tainted judges,” and pledged to oppose the transfer vehemently.
Moreover, the HCBA has urged the CJI to allow a first information report (FIR) to be filed against Justice Varma and has called for further investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The association stressed that the ongoing situation poses a severe threat to the integrity of the judiciary and could undermine public trust in the system.
In addition to these measures, the HCBA has advocated for a review of all judgments previously delivered by Justice Varma and has called for a significant overhaul of the collegium system used to appoint judges. The association criticized the current system for lacking transparency and being limited to a select group of candidates, often influenced by familial or professional connections.
