The recent appointment of Justice Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad High Court has created major uproar because alleged unaccounted cash was found in his house. This has led to discussions from the legal fraternity and started official inquiries. On the 14th of March 2025, a fire at Justice Varma’s official residence in Delhi led firefighters to allegedly discovering ₹15 crore in unaccounted cash. Justice Varma denies the claims and argues he is being framed in a conspiracy. The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended transferring him back to the Allahabad High Court, which is his parent institution. Moreover, the Chief Justice of India formed a three-member committee to inquire into the allegations. The Supreme Court, moreover, has instructed the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court to not assign Justice Varma any judicial work when he begins his duties.
Opposition from the Allahabad High Court Bar
The Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) strongly opposed the transfer of Justice Varma. In a letter, the HCBA questioned whether the Allahabad High Court is to be the “trash bin for the judges,” with serious allegations against them. The HCBA noted that the court is already short on judges, causing delays in hearings and reducing public confidence in the judicial system. HCBA called for impeachment proceedings to be initiated against Justice Varma and directed the CBI and ED to help investigate.
Read more- Amazon and Meta is facing losses because of Chinese Advertisers
Historical context and allegations
Justice Varma’s name had been listed in a 2018 CBI FIR related to alleged financial irregularities involving Simbhaoli Sugar Mills. In December 2023, the Allahabad High Court started a new CBI investigation concerning a number of banks and their lending practices in relation to their loans. The recent discovery of cash at Justice Varma’s residence means the in-house investigation ordered by the Supreme Court and the HCBA’s requests for further investigations into Justice Varma are troubling. click here for the source
