Justice Yashwant Varma on Saturday officially took oath as a judge of the Allahabad High Court, following his recent transfer from the Delhi High Court.
The swearing-in comes amid an ongoing internal investigation into a controversy surrounding unaccounted cash recovered from his residence last month.
Justice Varma’s transfer to his parent High Court—Allahabad—was approved by the Supreme Court Collegium and cleared by the central government on March 28. However, the move has sparked backlash from various lawyers’ associations in Uttar Pradesh, with the Allahabad and Lucknow Bar Associations staging protests and calling for an indefinite strike.
Despite the opposition, the transfer went through, and Justice Varma was sworn in today. However, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has instructed the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court not to assign Justice Varma any judicial responsibilities until the ongoing inquiry is completed.
Cash Recovery Sparks Allegations
The controversy began on March 14, when a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s residence in Delhi. Firefighters responding to the blaze discovered a large quantity of cash at the scene, triggering serious concerns and allegations of corruption. Justice Varma and his wife were away in Madhya Pradesh at the time of the incident, while his daughter and elderly mother were at home.
Following the incident, the Chief Justice of India ordered an internal inquiry on March 21 and appointed three High Court judges to investigate the matter. Justice Varma has denied any wrongdoing, claiming he may be the victim of a conspiracy.
Bar Association Protests & Response
News of his transfer led to strong protests by legal professionals in Uttar Pradesh. The Allahabad High Court Bar Association launched an indefinite strike, opposing the Collegium’s decision. However, the strike was suspended on March 29 after the CJI intervened and confirmed that Justice Varma would not be assigned any judicial work for the time being.
Court has also released the Delhi High Court Chief Justice’s report on the matter, along with Justice Varma’s formal response.
While Justice Varma has officially joined the Allahabad High Court, his future judicial duties remain on hold pending the outcome of the in-house investigation. The legal community and public alike now await the findings of the probe to determine the next course of action.
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