New Delhi, May 5: An internal inquiry into allegations of cash being found at the official residence of Justice Yashwant Varma has concluded, with a report submitted to Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on May 4.
The three-member panel, formed on March 22 by the Chief Justice, consisted of Justice Sheel Nagu (Chief Justice, Punjab and Haryana High Court), Justice G.S. Sandhawalia (Chief Justice, Himachal Pradesh High Court), and Justice Anu Sivaraman (Judge, Karnataka High Court). Their findings, finalized on May 3, were handed over the following day.
Justice Varma, formerly a judge of the Delhi High Court, was transferred to the Allahabad High Court and sworn in under contentious circumstances on April 5. Notably, his oath was administered in a private ceremony, bypassing the customary public proceedings. The move has drawn sharp criticism amid ongoing investigations into claims that sacks of partially burnt cash were found at his Delhi residence in the weeks preceding his transfer.
Despite his swearing-in, Justice Varma has not been assigned any judicial or administrative duties, court sources have confirmed.
The timing of his appointment has raised eyebrows, especially in light of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed at the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, which urged a deferral of his induction pending the inquiry's outcome.
The controversy has sparked strong reactions within the legal community. The Allahabad High Court Bar Association voiced its opposition in a letter addressed to the Chief Justice and other senior judges, expressing discontent over the Collegium's decision. The letter stated emphatically, "We are not a dumping ground," and demanded greater transparency and accountability in judicial appointments.
As scrutiny intensifies, Justice Varma's role in the Allahabad High Court remains unresolved. Legal experts and observers view the case as emblematic of broader concerns surrounding judicial probity and the processes underpinning judicial transfers and elevations.
According to the Allahabad High Court's official website, Justice Varma earned his law degree from Rewa University in 1992 and enrolled as an advocate the same year. His legal practice has spanned constitutional law, industrial disputes, corporate and tax matters, and environmental issues. He served as special counsel to the Allahabad High Court from 2006 until his elevation to the bench in 2012.
