Supreme Court says Delhi High Court judge’s transfer is not related to ‘rumours’
NEWS
Supreme Court says proposal to transfer Justice Yashwant Varma was based on Collegium’s procedure; Delhi High Court has initiated an internal inquiry into ‘incident’, and findings will be reviewed by CJI, it adds
The Supreme Court issued a statement on Friday (March 21, 2025) that “misinformation and rumours” are being spread with regard to an “incident” at the residence of Delhi High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma, compelling the apex court Collegium to transfer him out.
The statement from the Supreme Court came after a report by The Times of India, followed by source-based online media reports, that a “huge pile of cash” was recovered when a fire broke out in the residential bungalow of the judge.
The press note issued by the Supreme Court, while confirming the existence of a proposal to transfer Justice Varma, stated categorically that it was unconnected with an in-house enquiry procedure into the “incident”.
“The proposal for transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma, who is the second seniormost judge in the Delhi High Court and a member of the Collegium to his parent High Court, i.e., the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, where he will be ninth in seniority, is independent and separate from the in-house enquiry procedure,” it informed.
The apex court note said the transfer proposal has been examined by the Supreme Court Collegium. The Collegium has further asked for feedback on the proposal from consultee judges of the Supreme Court, the Chief Justices of the High Courts concerned and also from Justice Varma.
“Responses received will be examined and, thereupon, the Collegium will pass a resolution,” the statement said.
On the “incident”, the top court said the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice D.K. Upadhyaya, on receiving information, had commenced an in-house enquiry collecting details and evidence. The High Court Chief Justice had begun the enquiry even prior to a Supreme Court Collegium meeting on March 20. The enquiry report would be submitted to Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on March 21. The Delhi High Court Chief Justice’s report would be “examined and processed for further and necessary action”, the press note said.
The nature of the enquiry and report are confidential to protect the individual integrity of the judge concerned.