Bar Bodies Demand Inquiry into Justice Varma Case

Bar associations have submitted a memorandum to the Chief Justice of India demanding the withdrawal of a collegium recommendation to transfer Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma amid allegations surrounding him. They have called for an inquiry into purported tampering of evidence at his residence and on-going protests continue.

Bar associations from several high courts, including those of Allahabad, Gujarat, and Kerala, have submitted a memorandum to the Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, urging him to reconsider the collegium's recommendation to transfer Justice Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad High Court.

The focus of the memorandum is not just the proposed transfer but also the contentious events surrounding Justice Varma. This includes allegations of evidence tampering at his Delhi residence, where it is claimed burnt wads of cash were discovered after a fire incident on March 14. The bar associations are questioning why an FIR has yet to be filed concerning the fire incident and associated allegations.

The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has responded with an indefinite strike starting March 25. Amidst these protests, Justice Varma has strongly denied the allegations, affirming that neither he nor his family placed cash in the storeroom. The Supreme Court collegium has recommended his repatriation to the Allahabad High Court, after which a three-member committee was established for an inquiry, whose report will be made public.

(With inputs from agencies.)