Centre notifies Justice Varma’s transfer to Allahabad High Court; not to be assigned judicial work

Amid the raging controversy over alleged discovery of unaccounted cash at the residence of Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court during a fire on March 14, the Centre on Friday notified his transfer to the Allahabad High Court – his parent high court.

“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,” a Department of Justice notification read.

However, Justice Varma will not be assigned any judicial work in the Allahabad High Court. “The Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court for the time being has been asked not to assign any judicial work to Mr Justice Yashwant Varma, when he assumes charge as a Judge of the Allahabad High Court,” the Supreme Court said in a press release.

Almost four months after the Supreme Court Collegium recommended repatriation of Justice CD Singh of the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court, the Centre on Friday also notified his transfer to his parent high court.

Justice Arindam Sinha of the Orissa High Court has also been transferred to the Allahabad High Court.

On Thursday, the Collegium had recommended the transfer of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma of the Delhi High Court to the Calcutta High Court. The Centre is expected to notify it soon.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a PIL seeking a direction to Delhi Police to register an FIR against Justice Yashwant Varma following allegations of discovery of a semi-burnt stash of cash at his residence, terming it “premature”.

“Once the in-house inquiry is complete, all sorts of recourse is open. If required, the CJI can direct the registration of FIR. Why should we go into this today?” a Bench led by Justice AS Oka asked, refusing to entertain the PIL filed by advocate Mathews J Nedumpara and three others.

Leaders of six bar associations of different high courts had on Thursday met CJI Sanjiv Khanna-led Supreme Court Collegium demanding withdrawal of the recommendation to transfer Justice Varma to the Allahabad High Court and a criminal probe into the allegations.

The notification came four days after the Supreme Court Collegium recommended his transfer to the Allahabad High Court.