According to the DFS, the fire involved “stationery and domestic articles” and was quickly brought under control
Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma did not attend court proceedings on Friday, amidst an ongoing in-house inquiry initiated after a fire broke out at his official New Delhi residence on March 14. The incident has attracted attention due to reports suggesting the discovery of cash at the premises, though authorities remain tightlipped.
The matter surfaced during court proceedings when Senior Advocate Arun Bhardwaj addressed Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya’s bench, expressing concern over the incident. “Today’s incident has pained many of us. Please take some steps on the administrative side so that these incidents do not happen in future and the truthfulness of the judicial system is maintained… We are shaken and demoralised,” Bhardwaj said.
Chief Justice Upadhyaya responded, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation. “So is everybody… We are conscious,” he remarked, assuring Bhardwaj that the court is aware of the gravity of the concerns raised.
Repeated calls and messages by The Indian Express to Justice Varma’s office and staff seeking a comment went unanswered. Officials from the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) and Delhi Police have refrained from providing details beyond what has been officially recorded.
According to the DFS, the fire involved “stationery and domestic articles” and was quickly brought under control. “We do not have any information on this,” DFS chief Atul Garg stated when asked about reports concerning cash at the judge’s residence.
Sources revealed that a security personnel stationed at Justice Varma’s official residence alerted the fire department and local police around 11.30 pm on March 14. The Safdarjung Fire Station confirmed receiving the emergency call at 11.35 pm. Police officers from the Tughlak Road police station and DFS officials reached the location soon after. Delhi Police sources confirmed that a daily diary entry was made regarding the incident, but no formal complaint suggesting foul play was filed.
Justice Varma, who has been serving at the Delhi High Court since October 2021, plays a key administrative role within the institution. He is a member of at least 11 committees, including the ‘Administrative and General Supervision Committee’ and the ‘Committee for Finance and Budgeting and for sanction of contingent expenditure and writing off losses exceeding Rs 5 lakh’. Additionally, he chairs the Arbitration Committee of the Delhi International Arbitration Centre and the Delhi HC Legal Services Committee.
Previously, he was also part of the permanent committee, alongside former Chief Justice Manmohan, responsible for deciding on the conferment of senior advocate designations at the Delhi High Court last year.
Justice Varma began his legal career after completing his law degree in Madhya Pradesh, enrolling as an advocate in 1992. He practised at the Allahabad High Court, specialising in constitutional law, labour and industrial legislation, corporate laws, and taxation. He was appointed an additional judge at the Allahabad High Court in 2014, becoming a permanent judge in 2016. During his tenure there, he presided over several key cases across constitutional, arbitration, taxation, and criminal law.
In 2018, Justice Varma notably granted bail to Dr Kafeel Khan, who had been accused by the Uttar Pradesh government of medical negligence following the deaths of 63 children and 18 adults due to an alleged lack of oxygen supply.
The Delhi High Court has yet to release an official statement regarding the outcome of its in-house inquiry.
