“We are not trash bin”: Allahabad HC Bar Association Slams SC Over Justice Yashwant Varma’s Transfer Amid Cash Seizure Row

Allahabad: The Allahabad High Court Bar Association strongly objected to Justice Yashwant Varma’s repatriation on Friday, asserting that the court should not be treated as a “trash bin.” This statement comes amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged discovery of unaccounted cash—reportedly Rs 15 crore—at Justice Varma’s residence.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Justice and other judges of the Allahabad High Court, the Bar Association expressed shock over the Supreme Court Collegium’s decision to transfer Justice Varma back to the court following the cash seizure.

“This decision raises a crucial question—should the Allahabad High Court be considered a dumping ground? The issue is even more pressing given the current shortage of judges, with new appointments pending for several years,” the association stated.

Additionally, the letter highlighted concerns over the lack of judges in the court and echoed criticisms from senior Delhi lawyers, including Kapil Sibal and Indira Jaising, regarding the Collegium’s opaque selection process for judicial appointments.

What is the controversy surrounding Delhi HC Judge Yashwant Varma ?

While Justice Yashwant Varma was out of town, a fire broke out at his residence in Delhi. His family promptly called the fire brigade and the police. After extinguishing the fire, first responders discovered a substantial amount of cash in one of the rooms, raising suspicions of unaccounted money. The recovery was officially recorded, and local police alerted their seniors, who then escalated the matter to higher authorities.

The news soon reached top government officials, who informed Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna. Taking the matter seriously, CJI Khanna immediately convened a collegium meeting.

The collegium unanimously decided to transfer Justice Varma back to his parent court, the Allahabad High Court, from where he had been elevated to the Delhi High Court in October 2021. However, some members of the five-judge collegium felt that a mere transfer was insufficient, as such a serious incident could tarnish the judiciary’s image and erode public trust.

These members suggested that Justice Varma should be asked to resign, and if he refused, CJI Khanna should initiate an in-house inquiry as the first step toward potential removal through parliamentary proceedings.

Who is Justice Yashwant Varma? Delhi HC Judge Transferred After Cash Found at His Residence

Justice Yashwant Varma was born on January 6, 1969, in Allahabad. He completed his Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Hansraj College, Delhi University, and later earned his LLB degree from Rewa University, Madhya Pradesh. He enrolled as an advocate on August 8, 1992.

He began his judicial career with his appointment as an Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court on October 13, 2014. He was later sworn in as a Permanent Judge on February 1, 2016. On October 11, 2021, he was transferred to the Delhi High Court.

During his tenure as an advocate at the Allahabad High Court, Justice Varma had a diverse practice, dealing with constitutional law, labor and industrial legislation, corporate matters, taxation, and other related legal areas. He also served as Special Counsel for the Allahabad High Court from 2006 until his elevation to the bench. Additionally, he held the position of Chief Standing Counsel for the state of Uttar Pradesh from 2012 to August 2013, before being designated as a Senior Advocate by the court.