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Justice Yashwant Varma, a distinguished member of the Indian judiciary, has recently come under scrutiny following the discovery of a substantial amount of unaccounted cash at his official residence in Delhi. This incident has prompted swift action from the Supreme Court Collegium and ignited discussions about judicial accountability.
Born on January 6, 1969, in Allahabad (now Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh, Justice Varma pursued a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) at Delhi University’s Hansraj College, followed by an LL.B. from Rewa University in Madhya Pradesh. He enrolled as an advocate on August 8, 1992, at the Allahabad High Court, where he specialized in constitutional matters, labor disputes, industrial laws, corporate laws, and taxation. His expertise led to his appointment as Special Counsel for the Allahabad High Court in 2006, and he later served as the state’s Chief Standing Counsel. In October 2014, he was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court and became a permanent judge in February 2016. He transferred to the Delhi High Court in October 2021.
During the Holi weekend, a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s official bungalow in Delhi. Firefighters responding to the emergency discovered a large sum of cash in one of the rooms. This unexpected find led to immediate notifications up the administrative chain, reaching senior government officials and the Chief Justice of India.
Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna convened an emergency meeting of the Supreme Court Collegium to address the situation. The Collegium decided to transfer Justice Varma back to his parent court, the Allahabad High Court, as an initial step. Discussions are ongoing regarding further actions, which may include an in-house inquiry or potential impeachment proceedings, depending on the outcomes of the investigations.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the legal community. Senior advocate Arun Bhardwaj expressed deep concern before the Delhi High Court, stating that many were “shaken” and “demoralized” by the developments. Chief Justice D.K.
Upadhyaya acknowledged these sentiments, emphasizing collective awareness and concern within the judiciary. Delhi
The controversy reached the Rajya Sabha, where Congress MP Jairam Ramesh highlighted the need for judicial accountability in light of the incident. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar assured members that mechanisms for structured discussions on such matters would be explored, underscoring the importance of transparency and accountability in the judiciary.
As investigations proceed, the legal fraternity and the public await further developments. The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the integrity of judicial institutions and the measures necessary to uphold public trust in the justice system.
