Justice Varma’s Transfer Unrelated to In-House Inquiry, SC clarifies

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Synopsis

The top court, in its press statement, clarified that the transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma is independent of the in-house inquiry

The Supreme Court of India, on Friday, March 21, issued a press statement addressing misinformation regarding Delhi High Court Judge, Justice Yashwant Varma, from whose residence a large amount of unaccounted cash was recovered.

According to the press release, upon receiving the information, the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court initiated the in-house inquiry procedure and began gathering evidence. It further stated that Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya would submit his report to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) for further action.

"The‬‭ Chief‬‭ Justice‬‭ of‬‭ the‬‭ Delhi‬‭ High‬‭ Court,‬‭ who‬‭ had‬ commenced‬‭ his‬‭ enquiry‬‭ prior‬‭ to‬‭ the‬‭ Collegium‬‭ meeting‬‭ on‬‭ 20‬‭ th‬ March‬ 2025,‬‭ will‬‭ be‬‭ submitting‬‭ his‬‭ report‬‭ to‬‭ the‬‭ Chief‬‭ Justice‬‭ of‬‭ India‬‭ today‬‭ i.e.‬ on‬‭ 21‬‭ st‬ March‬‭ 2025.‬‭ The‬‭ report‬‭ will‬‭ be‬‭ examined‬‭ and‬‭ processed‬‭ for‬ further and necessary action," the press release stated.

The Supreme Court clarified in its press statement that the proposal for the transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma back to the Allahabad High Court, where he had previously served before his 2021 appointment to the Delhi High Court, is independent and separate from the in-house inquiry procedure.

"The‬‭ proposal‬‭ for transfer was‬‭ examined‬‭ by‬‭ the‬ Collegium‬‭ comprising‬‭ of‬‭ the‬‭ Chief‬‭ Justice‬‭ of‬‭ India‬‭ and‬‭ four‬‭ senior‬‭ most‬ Judges‬‭ of‬‭ the‬‭ Supreme‬‭ Court‬‭ on‬‭ 20‬‭ th‬ March‬‭ 2025,‬‭ and‬‭ thereafter‬‭ letters‬ were‬‭ written‬‭ to‬‭ the‬‭ consultee‬‭ Judges‬‭ of‬‭ the‬‭ Supreme‬‭ Court,‬‭ the‬‭ Chief‬ Justices‬‭ of‬‭ the‬‭ High‬‭ Courts‬‭ concerned‬‭ and‬‭ Mr.‬‭ Justice‬‭ Yashwant‬‭ Varma.‬Responses‬‭ received‬‭ will‬‭ be‬‭ examined‬‭ and,‬‭ thereupon,‬‭ the‬‭ Collegium‬‭ will‬ pass a resolution," the press statement added.

In a related development, the High Court Bar Association (HCBA), Allahabad, has strongly objected to the Supreme Court’s decision to transfer Justice Yashwant Varma back to the Allahabad High Court following allegations of corruption. Expressing outrage, the Bar Association released a statement questioning whether the Allahabad High Court was being treated as a “trash bin” for tainted judges.

Justice Yashwant Varma didn't preside over court proceedings today, as media reports suggest he was on leave. The matter was mentioned before a bench led by the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court earlier in the day.