Allahabad High Court Bar Association Begins Indefinite Strike Against Transfer Of Justice Yashwant Varma After Cash Discovery

In the wake of the corruption scandal involving Delhi High Court Judge, Justice Yashwant Varma, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association (AHCBA) called for a review of all verdicts he has issued during his judicial tenure, The Hindu reported.

The association also initiated a resolution on Monday (24 March) for an indefinite strike against the Supreme Court collegium's decision to relocate Justice Varma to the Allahabad High Court from Delhi High Court.

The controversy erupted after the discovery of heaps of incinerated money in the storage area of the judge's official dwelling after a fire accident.

The association also demanded the review of all the judgments delivered by Justice Varma during his tenure as a judge at the Allahabad High Court and Delhi High Court "to inspire confidence of people at large to regain ‘public faith’ in the judicial system."

The Bar Association expressed concerns that following the incident involving Justice Varma, the judiciary - particularly the High Court and Supreme Court - may lose their moral authority and urged the Supreme Court to decide what needs to be done.

The Association reiterated its firm stance against transferring Justice Varma to the original Allahabad High Court or its Lucknow Bench, emphasising that the Allahabad High Court should not be seen as a place to reassign corrupt or discredited judges.

“After having considered the entire report which has been uploaded on the website of the Supreme Court and in particular the reply of Justice Varma, the association rejects his reply and reiterates that appropriate criminal proceedings should be lodged against him by filing a first information report in the matter which should be investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate,” AHCBA president Anil Tiwari said.

He expressed disappointment over Justice Varma's continued denial of his involvement, arguing that instead of claiming innocence and alleging a setup, he should resign honorably and allow the legal process to unfold naturally.