A huge row has broken out in the national capital following the detection of a huge amount of unaccounted money at the Delhi residence of Justice Yashwant Varma during the Holi weekend. The event has set off a legal and political firestorm, and the Supreme Court Collegium has quickly responded by suggesting his transfer to the Allahabad High Court.

Who Is Justice Yashwant Varma?

Justice Yashwant Varma has been a part of India’s judicial system for several decades. Born on January 6, 1969, in Allahabad (now Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh, he finished his undergraduate degree in Commerce (B Com Honours) from Hansraj College, Delhi University. He went on to study law at Rewa University in Madhya Pradesh.

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Enrolling as an advocate in the Allahabad High Court in August 1992, he developed a specialization in constitutional law, company regulations, taxation, and labor litigations. He was transferred and became an Additional Judge in Allahabad High Court in October 2014 and a permanent judge in February 2016. In October 2021, he was shifted to the Delhi High Court.

Prior to his judicial posting, Justice Varma was Special Counsel for the Allahabad High Court between 2006 and subsequent Chief Standing Counsel for the state.

The Controversy That Rocked the Judiciary

The controversy was initiated when fire fighters, answering a blaze at the home of Justice Varma, found heaps of unexplained cash. The incident rocked the legal fraternity and necessitated serious discussions within the judiciary.

The CJI Sanjiv Khanna, according to sources, perceived the scenario as injurious to the credibility of the judiciary. As such, the Supreme Court Collegium immediately recommended Justice Varma’s re-transfer to the Allahabad High Court.

Delhi High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya recognized the seriousness of the issue in response to objections made by senior advocate Arun Bhardwaj.

“Today’s incident has pained many of us. Please take some steps on the administrative side so these incidents do not happen in future and the judicial system is maintained…” Bhardwaj stated.

Justice Upadhyaya concurred, stating, “Yes, everyone has been shaken and demoralised.”

Demands for Judicial Appointments Transparency

The revelation has once again fuelled controversies surrounding judicial transparency and the selection process. Furthermore, Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Kapil Sibal commented on the matter, strongly urging drastic changes without delay.

“The issue of corruption within the judiciary is very serious… this is not something articulated by senior councils and lawyers for the first time. It has been going on for years,” Sibal said.

He also added, “The appointment process should be more transparent and carefully done… Corruption is a very serious issue and, despite what Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, corruption has increased…”

So far, Justice Varma has not made any statement on the allegations. His court officials have informed news agency PTI that he is “on leave.”

The Road Ahead for the Judiciary

The legal fraternity is now waiting to see how things play out in the controversy. The judiciary is under increasing pressure to respond to questions about corruption and transparency, as legal experts and political figures are demanding tighter checks in judicial appointments and behavior.

This case is undoubtedly likely to have a significant and lasting impact on judicial accountability in India. Moreover, it carries far-reaching implications for future cases wherever the nation’s legal system is involved.