The controversy revolves around reports that large amounts of cash were recovered from Justice Varma’s house. Mr. Salve has now called for the judge’s transfer to the Allahabad High Court to be put on hold until more clarity emerges.
Senior Advocate Harish Salve has once again criticized the Supreme Court’s Collegium system, calling himself a “trenchant critic” of it. He said that the system is “not equipped” to handle cases like the one involving Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma.
The controversy revolves around reports that large amounts of cash were recovered from Justice Varma’s house. Mr. Salve has now called for the judge’s transfer to the Allahabad High Court to be put on hold until more clarity emerges.
Speaking to NDTV, Harish Salve highlighted a key twist in the case. Delhi Fire Services Chief Atul Garg has stated that no cash was found at Justice Varma’s residence after a fire broke out there.
This contradicts earlier reports that claimed Rs 15 crore was recovered from the judge’s home in Lutyens’ Delhi after a fire call on March 14, which was the day of Holi.
This has led to an “odd and murky” situation, as Salve put it. “I was proceeding on the assumption that there was a recovery. I believe the Delhi fire chief has said there was no recovery. It is now a very odd situation in which the Supreme Court Collegium has issued transfer orders for the judge and an inquiry has been ordered and, on the other hand, it is being said there is no recovery. If there is no recovery, what is the inquiry about?”
Following the controversy, the Supreme Court issued a press statement. It clarified that Justice Varma’s transfer to the Allahabad High Court had nothing to do with the in-house inquiry ordered by the Delhi High Court.
The statement further mentioned that the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court would submit his report on the matter soon.
Salve questioned what this situation means for judicial accountability in India.
“I don’t know what’s going on, because if such a serious allegation is being falsely made, it raises very serious questions. And if the allegation is true, then again it raises very serious questions.”
BACKGROUND
The Supreme Court Collegium decided to transfer Justice Yashwant Verma from the Delhi High Court back to his parent High Court Allahabad. Sources informed that this decision came after a significant amount of unaccounted cash was found in his official bungalow last week during the Holi holidays.
The cash discovered following a fire in the building, which prompted family members of the judge who was out of the city at the time to call emergency services, leading to police involvement.
Upon learning of the situation through official channels, the Collegium, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, opted to transfer Justice Verma.
FOLLOW US FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES ON YOUTUBE
