In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India issued a directive to the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court on Friday, instructing that no judicial work be assigned to Justice Yashwant Varma upon his assumption of duties at the Allahabad High Court. This decision follows his recent transfer, which was announced today by the Central Government, subsequent to a recommendation from the Supreme Court Collegium on March 24.
The Supreme Court’s decision comes in the wake of a troubling incident involving Justice Varma. A fire at his residence on March 14 led to the discovery of a substantial amount of unaccounted cash by firefighters responding to the emergency. This discovery was further complicated by the circulation of a video by the Delhi Police Commissioner, capturing the recovery of the burnt currency.
In response to these developments, the Chief Justice of India initiated an in-house investigation on March 21, appointing a three-member committee to thoroughly examine the allegations against Justice Varma. In addition, the Supreme Court has released a detailed report from the Delhi High Court Chief Justice, including a response from Justice Varma regarding the incident.
Justice Yashwant Varma, born in 1969, boasts a distinguished legal career, having obtained his LLB degree from Rewa University in Madhya Pradesh and enrolling as an advocate in 1992. Over the years, he has held significant positions including special counsel for the Allahabad High Court and chief standing counsel for the State of Uttar Pradesh. After being designated as a Senior Advocate in 2013, he was appointed as an additional judge of the High Court in October 2014 and became a permanent judge in February 2017, before his transfer to the Delhi High Court in October 2021.
The Supreme Court’s directive to the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court highlights the judiciary’s commitment to maintaining the integrity and accountability of its members, particularly in light of serious allegations. The legal community and public alike await further developments in this high-profile case.
