Centre Approves Transfer Of Justice Yashwant Varma To Allahabad High Court Amidst In-House Inquiry Over Cash Row

The Central Government today (March 28) notified the repatriation of Justice Yashwant Varma from Delhi to the Allahabad High Court based on the Supreme Court Collegium's recommendations on March 24. 

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. 

Today, the Supreme Court rejected a petition seeking the registration of FIR and launch of a criminal investigation against Justice Varma saying that the outcome of the in-house inquiry must be awaited.

Justice Varma, who originally belonged to the Allahabad High Court, was transferred to the Delhi High Court in 2021.

Justice Varma became a centre of controversy on March 21 after the publication of news reports that a fire at a storeroom in the outhouse of his official bungalow led to the discovery of sacks of cash currencies.

On March 22, the CJI, Justice Sanjiv Khanna constituted a 3-member committee to conduct an inquiry into the allegations against Justice Varma, as part of the in-house procedure.

This was followed by the Supreme Court making the video of fire dousing, the report of the Delhi High Court Chief Justice and Justice Varma's response public on its official website. Justice Varma has denied possession of cash and claimed it to be a conspiracy against him.

On March 24, the Delhi High Court withdrew judicial work from Justice Varma in pursuance of directions from the Apex Court.