New Delhi [India], April 21: The Delhi High Court has announced that 52 pending cases previously assigned to the Division Bench of Justice Yashwant Varma and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar, where no formal orders were recorded, will now be heard afresh by the roster bench.
In an official notice issued on Monday, the court stated:
“It is hereby notified for the information of all concerned that the following matters, previously listed before the Division Bench comprising Justice Yashwant Varma and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar, in which a next hearing date had been assigned but no orders were drawn, shall be re-listed and heard afresh before the roster bench.”
The decision comes in the wake of Justice Varma’s transfer to the Allahabad High Court, a move that has stirred significant controversy. The transfer follows allegations that semi-burnt sacks of cash were discovered at his residence during a fire on March 14.
Justice Varma’s swearing-in at the Allahabad High Court was held privately, deviating from the customary public ceremony, prompting further scrutiny.
During his tenure at the Delhi High Court, Justice Varma was known for presiding over high-profile constitutional and corporate law matters. However, the alleged cash recovery incident has cast a shadow over his judicial career.
The Supreme Court initiated an inquiry into the matter and released a redacted report, withholding the findings from both public and parliamentary access due to the case’s sensitive nature. Additionally, a three-judge panel has been constituted by the Supreme Court to further investigate the incident.
As the judicial community watches closely, the reassignment of these 52 cases signals the court’s effort to maintain transparency and continuity amid ongoing developments.