Delhi HC strips Justice Yashwant Varma of judicial duties
Delhi High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyay removed Justice Yashwant Varma from judicial duties on Monday. This action followed the formation of a three-member inquiry committee by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna to investigate allegations linked to the discovery of large sums of cash at Justice Varma’s residence.
The Delhi High Court issued a circular stating, “In view of recent events, judicial work from Hon’ble Mr. Yashwant Varma is withdrawn with immediate effect till further orders.” CJI Khanna recommended this step on Saturday.
The in-house committee includes Justice Sheel Nagu (Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court), Justice GS Sandhawalia (Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court), and Justice Anu Sivaraman (Judge of Karnataka High Court). CJI Khanna acted on a recommendation from Delhi HC Chief Justice Upadhyay, who, in his report, suggested a deeper investigation.
The controversy began after a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s official residence on Tughlak Road around 11:35 pm on March 14. The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) extinguished the fire quickly. Reports suggest first responders discovered stacks of cash, some of which were charred. Justice Varma and his wife were in Bhopal during the incident.
On March 20, the Supreme Court collegium recommended Justice Varma’s transfer to the Allahabad High Court—his parent court. However, some collegium members pushed for stronger action. One member urged immediate removal from judicial work, while another demanded a formal inquiry to ensure accountability.
The Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) opposed Justice Varma’s transfer. The HCBA questioned whether their court was becoming a “dumping ground” for judges facing controversies.
The case has also drawn attention in Parliament. On March 21, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar responded to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh’s demand for greater judicial accountability. Dhankhar indicated he would explore ways to initiate structured debates on judicial transparency.
Dhankhar’s comments suggested a possible revival of the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) debate. The Supreme Court struck down the NJAC in 2015, rejecting government control over judicial appointments.
The case highlights growing calls for judicial transparency and raises questions about internal oversight within India’s judicial system.
