'We are not trash bin': Allahabad HC Bar Association on Justice Yashwant Varma's transfer

Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma.

The Allahabad High Court Bar Association on Friday slammed the Supreme Court collegium's decision to transfer Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma after alleged recovery of cash from his residence.

Varma has  been transferred back to the Allahabad High Court.

In a four-page letter, the Bar Association of the High Court said it is not a "trash bin" and it would not accept corruption. "Presently, we are facing so many problems particularly shortage of judges resulting into fresh cases not being heard for months thereby diminishing the faith of public in the rule of law but it does not mean that we are trash bin. We are not ready to accept corruption," the letter said. “...It is also of grave concern that while appointing judges by elevating members of the Bar, the Bar was never consulted. Consideration of eligibility appears to be not up to the mark. Something is lacking which has resulted in corruption and consequently, a great damage has been caused to the public faith in judiciary."

It was reported that a huge amount of cash was recovered from Justice Varma's residence after a fire broke out last week. After the fire was extinguished, first responders discovered a large sum of cash inside a room. The local police alerted their superiors, who briefed the brass on the accidental discovery, according to reports.

Following the recovery of unaccounted cash from Justice Varma’s house, the Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna decided to transfer him.

The SC collegium- led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna had met on Thursday evening and decided to transfer Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma back to his parent Allahabad High Court.

"Transfer is a normal thing and not a stigma. I am not admitting that there can be a situation of corruption because I feel that sometimes, people who are not getting favourable results may also plant. Here, I feel, when the judge himself and his family members were not there and such thing happened, including fire incident and video being made, there is suspicion," Adish Aggarwala, former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) presidentot, told Times of India.