On the night of March 14, a fire broke out in the storeroom near the staff quarters of Justice Varma’s official bungalow incash b Delhi, following which was found
In a significant development, Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court has been transferred back to the Allahabad High Court after a fire at his official residence led to the discovery of a substantial amount of cash. The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, recommended the transfer following the incident.
Incident Details
On the night of March 14, a fire broke out in the storeroom near the staff quarters of Justice Varma’s official bungalow in Delhi. At the time, Justice Varma and his wife were in Madhya Pradesh, leaving their daughter and elderly mother at home. The fire was promptly reported by his daughter and private secretary, leading to a swift response from the Delhi Fire Service. Upon extinguishing the fire, emergency responders allegedly discovered a significant amount of cash in various rooms of the residence.
Justice Varma’s Response
Justice Varma has strongly refuted the allegations regarding the cash discovery. In a detailed response to Delhi High Court Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya, he stated, “Neither I nor any of my family members had any knowledge of cash, nor does it have any bearing or relation with us.” He emphasised that the storeroom was commonly used to store miscellaneous household items and was accessible to various individuals, making the suggestion of storing cash there “preposterous.” He further criticised the media for publishing unverified claims that tarnished his reputation.
Supreme Court Collegium’s Decision
Following the incident, the Supreme Court Collegium convened and reviewed reports and video footage allegedly showing burnt cash at Justice Varma’s residence. The Collegium unanimously decided to transfer Justice Varma back to the Allahabad High Court, his parent court. Some members of the Collegium reportedly suggested that the incident warranted more than just a transfer, recommending either Justice Varma’s resignation or the initiation of an in-house inquiry if he refused to resign.
Ongoing Developments
The situation continues to evolve, with various stakeholders in the legal community closely monitoring the developments. As of now, no formal investigation has been announced, and it remains unclear what further actions, if any, will be taken in this matter.
