Justice Yashwant Varma transferred to Allahabad High Court amid probe into cash-at-home row

SC declines PIL for FIR, in-house inquiry underway

The Central government on Friday officially notified the transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court. The decision comes amid an ongoing probe into allegations of cash found at his official residence following a fire incident.

The transfer order stated:

“In exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 222 of the Constitution of India, the President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to transfer Shri Justice Yashwant Varma, Judge, Delhi High Court, to be a Judge of Allahabad High Court and to direct him to assume charge of his office in the Allahabad High Court.”

The Supreme Court Collegium had previously recommended Justice Varma’s repatriation to his parent High Court following the controversy.

Background: Fire and alleged cash discovery

Justice Varma was de-rostered by the Delhi High Court following a directive from the Chief Justice of India (CJI) after a fire broke out at his Lutyens’ Delhi residence on March 14. Reports later emerged of burnt cash allegedly discovered in a storeroom at the location.

Justice Varma has denied all allegations, stating that neither he nor his family had placed any cash at the premises.

In response, the Supreme Court set up a three-member in-house committee on March 22 to investigate the matter. A report prepared by Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya, which includes photos and videos related to the incident, has been uploaded to the court’s website.

Supreme Court rejects PIL seeking FIR

On Friday, the Supreme Court declined to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought the registration of an FIR into the alleged recovery of cash. The bench, comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, termed the petition premature, given that an in-house inquiry is already underway.

The court emphasized that multiple options remain open to the Chief Justice of India once the inquiry concludes, including ordering an FIR or referring the matter to Parliament.

Advocate Mathews Nedumpara, who filed the PIL, argued that an FIR should already have been registered and questioned the absence of arrests. He also challenged the validity of a previous ruling in the K Veeraswami case, which mandates prior consultation with the Chief Justice before filing a criminal case against a sitting judge.

The bench, however, maintained that no intervention was necessary at this stage, stating:

“Let the committee submit its report. Thereafter, it is for the Chief Justice to take a call.”

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