New Delhi [India], March 21 : Senior Advocate Adish Aggarwala, former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), called for the Supreme Court collegium to conduct a thorough inquiry into the allegations against Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma, following an adverse report regarding the alleged recovery of cash during a fire at his residence. Aggarwala emphasized that the collegium must also apprise the public of the provisions that allow for the formation of an in-house committee to investigate such matters.
The Supreme Court collegium, led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, convened on Thursday evening and decided to transfer Justice Yashwant Varma back to his parent Allahabad High Court, following the allegations. The transfer came after an incident where cash was reportedly recovered during a fire at his residence.
“The Collegium of the Supreme Court should conduct a thorough inquiry. There’s nothing wrong in a transfer,” Aggarwala stated. “Transfer is a normal procedure and does not carry a stigma. I am not suggesting that there is corruption involved, as people who do not receive favorable outcomes may sometimes fabricate accusations. However, there is some suspicion given the circumstances of the fire, the missing family members, and the recording of a video.”
Meanwhile, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, another former SCBA president, demanded an in-house inquiry into the matter. Singh stressed the seriousness of the situation, especially if the judge fails to provide an explanation for the discovered cash. “This is a very serious matter because the public has trust in the judiciary. If such cash is found in a judge’s residence and there is no clear explanation, this needs to be addressed seriously,” Singh told ANI. “In my opinion, transferring the judge is not the solution. An in-house inquiry should be conducted first.”
Senior Advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal also weighed in on the issue, highlighting the broader concern of corruption in both the judiciary and society. “I am not aware of the facts in this specific case, but corruption in the judiciary is a very serious issue. This is not a new concern; it has been raised for years,” Sibal remarked. He further called for more transparency in the judicial appointment process and pointed out that corruption is a significant issue in society at large.
The SC Collegium has indicated that it will take further action against Justice Yashwant Varma “if and as required.” “The Supreme Court Collegium met and the CJI took note of the issue. The transfer is not final; it is part of a process. Further action, if necessary, will be taken in the future,” sources told.
Justice Yashwant Varma was appointed as a Delhi High Court judge in October 2021 and had previously served as a judge at the Allahabad High Court since October 13, 2014.