Cash at judge's house after fire: Who is Justice Yashwant Varma?

New Delhi, March 21: The Supreme Court Collegium has decided to immediately transfer Delhi High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma back to his parent court in Allahabad following the discovery of a large amount of cash at his residence during a recent fire incident. 

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The decision was made on Thursday evening after a review by the five-member Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna. Reports and video footage allegedly showing burning cash at Justice Varma’s New Delhi residence played a key role in the Collegium's decision.

Justice Varma, who has been at the center of controversy due to the discovery of substantial cash at his official residence, was appointed as a judge of the Delhi High Court in October 2021. The incident reportedly unfolded after a major fire broke out at his residence, leading to the discovery of the money. The specifics of how the cash came to be at his residence are still unclear, fueling the controversy.

Born on January 6, 1969, in Allahabad, Justice Varma was enrolled as an advocate in 1992. He was first appointed as an additional judge of the Allahabad High Court on October 13, 2014, and became a permanent judge there on February 1, 2016. He had been serving at the Delhi High Court for less than two years before the fire incident prompted the Collegium's decision.

Senior legal figures have called for a thorough inquiry into the allegations. Senior Advocate Adish Aggarwala, former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), emphasized the need for the Collegium to establish an in-house committee to investigate the allegations. Former SCBA president Vikas Singh also demanded an inquiry, asserting that if Justice Varma cannot provide a satisfactory explanation for the cash, the matter must be treated with utmost seriousness.