In a significant upheaval at the Allahabad High Court, a large group of lawyers has begun an indefinite protest against Justice Yashwant Verma, raising concerns over allegations of corruption. The lawyers, gathering in substantial numbers at Gate Number 3, are demanding that Justice Verma’s transfer from the Delhi High Court to Allahabad should be reconsidered.
The Allahabad Bar Association has vehemently opposed the appointment, arguing that the High Court should not become a repository for judges facing corruption charges. “We will not tolerate such judges,” said a representative of the protesting lawyers. The association has previously stated, “Allahabad High Court is not a dumpster for corrupt individuals.”
This protest follows recent revelations that a large sum of cash was reportedly found burning during a firefighting operation at Justice Verma’s residence in Delhi. These allegations have thrust Justice Verma into controversy, with his upcoming transfer to Allahabad High Court only adding fuel to the fire. In response, the High Court Bar Association commenced an indefinite strike today, March 25, with support from bar associations across other high courts.
At an emergency executive meeting held last Monday, the president of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association, Anil Tiwari, confirmed that they had sent letters of support to 22 high courts across the country. “Our fight is not against any particular judge but against a system that jeopardizes the integrity of hardworking judges,” Tiwari explained.
Regarding the incident at his residence, Justice Yashwant Verma stated that neither his family members nor his staff saw any cash as claimed. He reported that during the incident, all were asked to evacuate for safety reasons and upon their return, no cash or currency was found at the site.
The bar association has escalated the matter, demanding that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) be allowed to file cases against Justice Verma. The association has passed 11 resolutions in its general body meeting, calling for accountability and reforms to prevent such incidents in the future.
