The Central Government has issued a notification for the transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court, following the Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendations on March 24. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has directed the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court not to assign any work to Justice Varma.
Justice Varma is facing an in-house inquiry by a 3-judge panel constituted by the Chief Justice of India over the allegations regarding the discovery of illicit cash currencies at his official premises. It is significant to note that the transfer order has come despite the protests of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association. Earlier, The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea seeking the registration of an FIR against Justice Yashwant Varma, former Delhi High Court Judge.
Sacks of cash were recovered from Justice Varma’s house after a fire incident. A bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan heard the petition and asked to conclude the internal investigation. The bench said, if the internal probe finds Mr. Varma guilty, the CJI will have the option of ordering registration of an FIR or recommending his removal to the government, the bench said. An in-house inquiry is currently underway. There may be many options after the report comes, the court said while rejecting the plea.