New Delhi:
The transfer of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma – in whose home a pile of unaccounted cash was found last week – is not the “final step”, sources told NDTV Friday afternoon, confirming the Supreme Court had ordered an investigation into the matter.
Justice Varma – who has not commented yet and is “on leave” for the day – will be transferred back to his parent High Court in Allahabad, the Supreme Court Collegium decided earlier.
The controversy surrounding Justice Varma – appointed to the Delhi High Court in 2021 – broke during Holi last week, when a blaze at his Delhi bungalow had to be put out by firefighters.
In doing so, they found the cash and alerted the police. And, as the news ran through official channels, the Supreme Court was alerted, and the five-member Collegium was convened.
Sources said the Chief Justice took a very serious view of the discovery of the cash and the Collegium concurred, agreeing unanimously on Justice Varma’s transfer.
There was also talk of Justice Varma being asked to resign.
Should he refuse to do so, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court can order a formal inquiry by a committee to be formed of one Supreme Court judge and two High Court Chief Justices.
After the committee submits a report and if the Chief Justice is then of the opinion that the alleged misconduct is of a grave nature requiring removal, he will ask the judge to resign.
If the judge were to refuse, the Chief Justice will then write to the government to initiate proceedings for his/her removal by Parliament, under Article 124(4) of the Constitution.
