In a startling incident, a fire at the residence of Delhi High Court Judge, Justice Yashwant Varma, has led to the discovery of a significant amount of cash, raising serious questions within the judiciary. The fire, which occurred on March 14 while Justice Varma was away, prompted his family to call for emergency services. Once extinguished, the responders found a substantial pile of cash hidden in one of the rooms.
This unexpected discovery caused an immediate stir, leading to a swift escalation to higher authorities and an urgent response from the apex judicial body of India. On March 20, under the directive of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, the Supreme Court collegium convened and decided to transfer Justice Varma back to the Allahabad High Court, his original posting before his appointment to the Delhi High Court in October 2021.
The quick decision by the collegium comes amidst concerns about the implications of such findings on the public’s trust in the judicial system. According to a detailed report by the Times of India, there were discussions within the collegium about the need for more stringent actions beyond a mere transfer to ensure the integrity of the judiciary remains intact.
Several members of the collegium argued that a simple transfer might not be adequate given the gravity of the situation. They suggested that Justice Varma should consider resigning voluntarily to uphold judicial propriety. Furthermore, there was talk of possibly initiating an in-house inquiry, which could lead to impeachment proceedings if the judge chooses not to step down voluntarily.
This incident has drawn comparisons to the 2008 “Cash-at-Door” scandal involving a Punjab and Haryana High Court judge, which similarly shook the judicial community and led to significant legal and procedural repercussions.
Source: TOI
