'Not a trash bin': Allahabad HC Bar opposes transfer of Justice Varma after 15 crore cash found in his home

The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has strongly opposed the transfer of Delhi High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad High Court, following his alleged involvement in a cash recovery scandal. As per reports, nearly 15 Crore cash was recovered from Varma's house. The Bar Association issued a four-page letter on Friday (March 21), condemning the move by the Supreme Court collegium and asserting that it would not tolerate corruption.

The Bar Association expressed its discontent with the transfer, emphasizing that Allahabad High Court is already struggling with a severe shortage of judges. The letter stated, “We are not a trash bin. We are not ready to accept corruption.” The association also raised concerns about the judicial backlog and the diminishing faith of the public in the legal system due to prolonged case delays.

Justice Varma's transfer decision was taken by the Supreme Court collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna. The decision follows a recent incident where a large amount of cash was discovered at Justice Varma’s residence after a fire broke out. After the fire was doused, first responders stumbled upon the cash stash, leading to immediate police intervention.

Justice Varma, the second senior-most judge of the Delhi High Court, did not hold court proceedings on Friday, with his court master informing advocates about the unexpected absence. The news of his alleged involvement in the cash recovery case has sent shockwaves through the legal fraternity.

A senior advocate raised concerns over the issue before Delhi High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya, who acknowledged the gravity of the situation and remarked, “So is everybody. We are conscious of the...” The abrupt transfer and allegations have ignited debates on judicial accountability and the collegium’s decision-making process.

Justice Varma, enrolled as an advocate in 1992, was appointed as an additional judge of the Allahabad High Court in 2014. He later became a permanent judge in 2016 before his transfer to the Delhi High Court in 2021. His judicial bench dealt with GST cases, company appeals, and sales tax disputes. With his reputation under scrutiny, the legal community now awaits further developments in the case.