'Under no circumstances': Allahabad HC Bar opposes Justice Varma’s transfer

Justice Yashwant Varma

The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has adamantly opposed the Supreme Court's decision to transfer Justice Yashwant Varma from the Delhi High Court back to the Allahabad High Court, especially following the discovery of a significant sum of money in his official residence after a fire incident on March 14.

In a general meeting in Prayagraj on Monday, Anil Tiwari, the Bar Association's president, criticized the transfer and demanded further actions, reported Times of India. “We have passed 11 proposals. Under no circumstances will we allow his (Justice Yashwant Varma) transfer here; this should not happen today or in the future,” he stated.

Tiwari also urged the Chief Justice of India to permit investigative agencies to take appropriate actions. “We request the Chief Justice of India to allow the CBI and ED to file an FIR against him and conduct a trial, similar to what happens with any political leader or bureaucrat, since the incident is unrelated to any judicial function."

Additionally, Tiwari called for impeachment proceedings against Justice Varma. "We have asked the government to start the impeachment process as soon as possible to prevent any attempts to destroy evidence. We also questioned the fairness of the appointment system, asserting that the collegium system favors those who are well-connected."

The Supreme Court Collegium, under the leadership of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and four senior judges, recommended Justice Varma’s transfer back to his original court, the Allahabad High Court. The Collegium reviewed the transfer proposal on March 20 and clarified that it was not connected to the in-house inquiry initiated by the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court regarding the cash recovery.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar commended CJI Khanna for promoting judicial transparency during this controversy, noting that for the first time since Independence, a Chief Justice has revealed all pertinent details without any omissions.

"This marks progress. The Chief Justice's establishment of a committee and his vigilance are also commendable. Institutions like the judiciary and legislature operate most effectively when their internal mechanisms are efficient and maintain public trust,” he remarked.

This isn’t the first instance of the Allahabad HC Bar Association opposing such transfers. Last week, the association wrote to Chief Justice Arun Bhansali, asserting that the Allahabad HC is “not a trash bin.”

They connected their concerns to broader issues regarding the judicial appointment and transfer systems, arguing that these have eroded public confidence in the rule of law.

In response to the inquiry panel, Justice Yashwant Varma has denied any misconduct, labeling the allegations as attempts to tarnish his reputation. In a letter to the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, he claimed that neither he nor his family had any ties to the cash purportedly found at the location.