NEW DELHI: The Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) has demanded the removal of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma following corruption allegations. The association also strongly opposed the Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendation to shift him to the Allahabad High Court.
HCBA’s Key Demands:
- Impeachment Process: The HCBA passed a resolution urging Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud to initiate impeachment proceedings against Justice Varma, citing the seizure of unaccounted cash from his residence.
- Opposition to Transfer: The association opposed his transfer, calling it an attempt to “dump” a judge facing serious allegations.
- Criminal Investigation: Lawyers demanded a formal complaint and an inquiry by agencies like the CBI and ED, arguing that judicial immunity should not apply in such cases.
- Review of Past Verdicts: The resolution called for a reassessment of all judgments delivered by Justice Varma.
- Reforms in Judicial Appointments: The HCBA criticized the collegium system as “opaque” and demanded reforms for greater transparency.
Origins of the Controversy:
The issue surfaced after a fire at Justice Varma’s residence led to the discovery of unaccounted cash. While he dismissed the allegations as a conspiracy, CJI Chandrachud ordered an internal probe led by a three-judge panel.
However, the HCBA raised concerns over judicial self-investigation, arguing that “judges cannot be arbiters in their own case.” It warned that failure to take strict action would erode public confidence in the judiciary.
Despite the controversy, the Supreme Court Collegium officially recommended Justice Varma’s transfer to the Allahabad High Court on March 24—a move the HCBA has vowed to resist.
The lawyers stressed that the judiciary’s integrity was on the line, warning, “If trust is lost, everything is lost, and the system will collapse.”
