The Union government on Friday notified the transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma, currently serving as a Judge of the Delhi High Court, to the Allahabad High Court.
Justice Varma has been directed to assume his position and take charge at the Allahabad High Court.
Centre also transferred another judge of Delhi High Court, Justice CD Singh to Allahabad High Court, reported news agency ANI.
Notably, the Supreme Court Collegium on Monday recommended the transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma to his parent court after holding two meetings on the 20th and 24th of March 2025.
Following the Supreme Court Collegium's recommendation, the lawyers of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association began an indefinite strike to protest against the proposed transfer.
Justice Varma finds himself at the center of controversy following an unusual incident at his official residence. During a fire on March 14, firefighters allegedly discovered a substantial amount of cash at the judge's home while he was absent. This unexpected discovery has sparked a serious investigation into the circumstances surrounding the cash.
In response to these allegations, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna constituted a three-member inquiry committee comprising senior judges from different high courts across India. The committee includes Justice Sheel Nagu from the Punjab & Haryana High Court, Justice G.S. Sandhawalia from the Himachal Pradesh High Court, and Justice Anu Sivaraman from the Karnataka High Court. Their primary task is to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
The Supreme Court has also released an initial inquiry report suggesting the need for a more in-depth probe into the incident.
Justice Varma has firmly denied all allegations, asserting that the entire situation appears to be a deliberate conspiracy aimed at tarnishing his reputation. He maintains that the claims are fabricated and designed to malign him. The Supreme Court has noted his response and included it in the preliminary documentation.
