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Synopsis

In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has directed the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court not to assign any judicial work to Justice Yashwant Varma upon his assumption of office.

This direction, issued through a press release dated March 28, 2025, marks a major turn in the ongoing dispute between the Allahabad High Court Bar Association and the judiciary over his transfer.  

The direction comes amid the intense protests by the Allahabad High Court Bar Association, which has been vehemently opposing Justice Varma’s transfer.

The bar association had earlier passed a resolution rejecting the Supreme Court collegium’s decision and announced a judicial boycott in protest. The association’s executive committee also urged the central government to intervene and reverse the transfer.  

On March 26, 2025, the bar association escalated its protest by suspending the membership of lawyers who defied the boycott and continued to appear in court. Advocate Chandan was among those served a *show-cause notice* for disregarding the bar’s directive and engaging in judicial work. The association had warned that failure to comply with the boycott would lead to permanent expulsion and a request to the high court to strike their names from the advocate roll.  

The bar’s demands have extended beyond Justice Varma’s transfer. In a general body meeting held on March 26, the association also called for reforms, including:  

1. Prohibiting judges' close relatives (Kith & Kin) from practicing in the same high court.  

2. Immediate changes to the listing system, ensuring that older cases are heard first.  

3. Complete cooperation from government law officers, including the advocate general and additional advocate generals, in the protest.  

The Supreme Court’s latest direction temporarily halts Justice Varma’s judicial work but does not reverse his transfer.

The bar association has yet to announce its response to this latest development.