SC collegium initiates probe, starts process to transfer him
PTI and Agencies, March 22, 2025 , New Delhi : The Rajya Sabha on Friday witnessed discussions on the alleged discovery of a substantial amount of cash at the residence of a sitting Delhi High Court judge. The matter was raised by Congress Member of Parliament Jairam Ramesh, prompting Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to assure that a structured discussion mechanism would be explored.
During the session, Ramesh emphasized the need for judicial accountability, reminding the House of a previously submitted notice concerning the impeachment of a judge from the Allahabad High Court. Expressing concern over the current incident, he urged Dhankhar to provide necessary directions to the government for a more robust framework ensuring judicial transparency.
In response, Chairman Dhankhar pointed out the delayed public disclosure of the alleged cash recovery, stating that if such an incident had involved a politician, bureaucrat, or industrialist, the response would have been immediate and severe. He called for a systemic approach that ensures transparency, accountability, and effectiveness in dealing with judicial misconduct.
The revelation, which has cast a spotlight on the higher judiciary, was reportedly made when firefighters and police personnel discovered large sums of cash at the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma while responding to a fire incident. In reaction, the Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, swiftly convened an urgent meeting and initiated an initial inquiry into the matter. While not an in-house investigation as per Supreme Court judgments, this inquiry entails seeking a primary report from the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court.
As an immediate measure, the Collegium has recommended the transfer of Justice Varma to the Allahabad High Court, his parent institution. The proposed transfer will be subject to the Centre’s acceptance of the Collegium’s recommendation, which is yet to be officially communicated.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reacted cautiously to the developments, with party spokesperson Sambit Patra stating that the judiciary must be allowed to handle the matter independently. He cited media reports confirming that the Chief Justice of India was already addressing the situation.
The Delhi High Court Chief Justice, D. K. Upadhyaya, also expressed pain and shock over the controversy when a senior lawyer mentioned the issue in court. Reports suggest that certain senior members of the Supreme Court Collegium have advocated for stricter action against Justice Varma beyond his transfer. The exact amount of cash recovered remains undisclosed.
Justice Yashwant Varma, who is currently part of a division bench dealing with cases related to sales tax, GST, and corporate appeals, was appointed as a judge of the Delhi High Court in October 2021 after previously serving as a permanent judge in the Allahabad High Court since February 2016. He enrolled as an advocate in 1992 and was appointed as an additional judge of the Allahabad High Court in 2014.
As discussions on judicial accountability gain momentum, Chairman Dhankhar has assured that he will consult with the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition to facilitate a structured debate on the issue within the current parliamentary session. The incident has reignited calls for the revival and implementation of past legislative efforts to ensure greater judicial accountability and prevent such controversies in the future.
