A fire at Delhi High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Verma’s residence exposed unaccounted cash, highlights growing concerns over corruption in the judiciary.
NEW DELHI: In a shocking turn of events, a fire at the official residence of Delhi High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Verma led to the discovery of a significant amount of unaccounted cash, setting off a major controversy within the Indian judiciary. The incident, which has sent ripples through legal circles, prompted an emergency response from Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, who swiftly convened a meeting of the Supreme Court Collegium.
How the Case Came to Light
Justice Verma was reportedly out of town when the fire broke out. According to Times of India, his family members immediately informed the fire department and local police. However, what initially seemed like a routine fire emergency took a dramatic turn when firefighters stumbled upon a large stash of cash in one of the rooms while extinguishing the flames. This unexpected discovery led to senior police officials being alerted, and the matter was quickly escalated to higher government authorities and the Chief Justice of India.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, CJI Khanna wasted no time and called for an emergency meeting of the Supreme Court Collegium—the powerful body responsible for judicial appointments and transfers. In an urgent move, the Collegium unanimously decided to transfer Justice Verma back to his parent High Court, Allahabad, from where he had been appointed to the Delhi High Court in October 2021.
Judiciary’s Internal Response and Concerns
The revelations sparked a heated debate within the Collegium and the legal fraternity. Some members raised concerns that merely transferring Justice Verma might not be sufficient to uphold the credibility of the judiciary. They argued that if the issue was left unaddressed, it could damage public trust in the legal system. Some suggested that the judge should be asked to resign, and if he refused, impeachment proceedings should be initiated.
As per constitutional provisions, the Supreme Court has a well-defined “in-house procedure” to deal with allegations of corruption, misconduct, or irregularities against judges. This process was introduced in 1999 and allows the CJI to first seek an explanation from the accused judge. If the response is deemed unsatisfactory or a deeper probe is required, the CJI can form an in-house inquiry committee comprising one Supreme Court judge and two Chief Justices of High Courts to investigate the matter.
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WHO IS JUSTICE YESHWANT VERMA
Justice Varma’s judicial career began in October 2014 when he was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court. He was elevated to a permanent position in February 2016.
According to the Delhi High Court website, Justice Varma was born on January 6, 1969, in Allahabad (now Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh. He pursued a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from Delhi University’s Hansraj College before obtaining his LL.B. from Rewa University in Madhya Pradesh.
He enrolled as an advocate at the Allahabad High Court on August 8, 1992, where he specialized in constitutional matters, labour disputes, industrial laws, corporate regulations, and taxation.
Between 2006 and his appointment to the bench, he served as Special Counsel for the Allahabad High Court and later as the state’s Chief Standing Counsel.
The controversy arose when firefighters responding to a blaze at Justice Varma’s Delhi residence discovered a significant amount of unaccounted cash. In response, the Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, recommended his transfer back to the Allahabad High Court to safeguard the judiciary’s integrity.
Justice Varma has not publicly addressed the incident and was absent from court proceedings today. His office informed PTI that he is currently “on leave.”
Delhi High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya acknowledged the gravity of the situation after senior advocate Arun Bhardwaj raised concerns in court, stating,
“Yes, everyone has been shaken and demoralised.”
Meanwhile, senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal called for a review of the judicial appointment process. In a video statement, he emphasized the severity of corruption in the judiciary, noting that it has been an ongoing concern for years.
“The appointment process should be more transparent and carefully executed… Corruption is a serious issue, and despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statements, it has only increased,” he remarked.
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Past Instances of Judicial Corruption in India
This is not the first time allegations of corruption have surfaced within the Indian judiciary. There have been several high-profile cases that have raised concerns about integrity and accountability in the system:
- Justice IM Quddusi Case (2017)
- Former Orissa High Court Judge IM Quddusi was arrested in a cash-for-judgment scandal, where he allegedly conspired to influence Supreme Court proceedings related to a medical college scam.
- Justice Soumitra Sen Impeachment (2011)
- Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta High Court became the first sitting judge in India to face impeachment proceedings in Parliament for financial misappropriation. He was accused of misusing ₹33.23 lakh, and despite attempts to defend himself, the Rajya Sabha voted overwhelmingly for his removal. He eventually resigned before the impeachment process could be completed in the Lok Sabha.
- Justice PD Dinakaran Case (2009-2011)
- Justice PD Dinakaran, then Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, faced serious allegations of land grabbing and corruption. Following pressure from the Bar Association and an inquiry committee, he resigned in 2011 to avoid impeachment.
- Provident Fund Scam (Ghaziabad, 2008)
- A massive ₹23 crore scam emerged in the Ghaziabad district court, where funds meant for judicial employees’ provident fund were embezzled. Several judicial officers, including sitting judges, were under scrutiny, exposing systemic loopholes.
- Justice Ramaswami Impeachment (1993)
- Justice V. Ramaswami of the Supreme Court was the first judge to face impeachment proceedings in independent India. He was accused of financial irregularities during his tenure as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. While Parliament debated his removal, political maneuvering ensured he survived impeachment.
The Road Ahead for Judicial Accountability
The case of Justice Yashwant Verma has once again brought judicial accountability into the spotlight. While the in-house mechanism allows the judiciary to handle such matters discreetly, critics argue that stronger legal and institutional safeguards are needed to prevent corruption at the highest levels. Calls for greater transparency in judicial appointments, stricter financial disclosures, and a more effective impeachment process have gained momentum over the years.
As the Indian judiciary grapples with yet another corruption controversy, the key question remains: Will this case be a wake-up call for long-overdue reforms, or will it fade into oblivion like many before it?
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