Shreya Gupta
The controversy surrounding Delhi High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma erupted as a significant amount of unaccounted cash was discovered in his official residence in Delhi. The incident took place last week during the Holi break and has raised serious concerns about the integrity of Judiciary . The discovery of the money occurred after a fire broke out in the building, prompting emergency services to respond. The police were called to the scene, leading to the revelation of the cash.
Upon being informed, the Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, decided to transfer Justice Varma to his parent Court, the Allahabad High Court. However, the Collegium emphasized that this transfer was not the final step in the matter. A preliminary inquiry has been initiated to further investigate the issue. Justice Varma has not made any public statements regarding the matter and is not presiding over court proceedings, reportedly taking leave.
The transfer decision was reached unanimously by the five-member Collegium, with all members expressing concern over the impact this incident could have on the Judiciary’s reputation. While some members considered the transfer sufficient, others suggested that stronger actions might be necessary to maintain public trust. There was even discussion about requesting Justice Varma’s resignation.
Delhi High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya acknowledged the distress caused by the incident, stating that it had left many in the Judiciary shaken. Senior advocate Arun Bhardwaj also urged the administration to take preventive steps to uphold the judicial system’s integrity.
Regarding the process for removing a High Court judge, guidelines established by the Supreme Court in 1999 outline specific steps. Initially, the Chief Justice of India seeks an explanation from the Judge concerned. If the response is unsatisfactory, an internal committee will be formed comprising one Supreme Court judge and two High Court Chief Justices. If the committee finds evidence of serious misconduct, the Chief Justice may request the judge’s resignation. Should the judge refuse, the Chief Justice can formally recommend their removal by Parliament under Article 124(4) of the Constitution.
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