The Delhi High Court reconstituted its administrative committees, removing Justice Yashwant Varma from multiple panels. The decision comes amid allegations following a fire at his residence, leading to the discovery of unaccounted cash. The Court underscored the necessity of maintaining the integrity of the judiciary, stating that transparency and accountability are essential to uphold public trust.
Justice Yashwant Varma was previously a member of various administrative committees of the Delhi High Court, including those concerning finance and budgeting, judicial education, case flow management, artificial intelligence, and arbitration. However, reports surfaced regarding a fire at his residence on March 14, which inadvertently led to the recovery of burnt cash. This incident triggered allegations of corruption against him, which Justice Varma has denied, asserting that the matter is a conspiracy to falsely implicate him.
Following these developments, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) initiated an in-house probe and constituted a three-member committee on March 22 to examine the allegations. Additionally, a video reportedly showing the recovery of the cash was shared by the Delhi Police Commissioner with the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court and was subsequently made available on the Supreme Court's website. The Supreme Court also published a report by the Delhi High Court Chief Justice on the incident, along with Justice Varma’s response.
Justice Varma maintained that the allegations against him were baseless and formed part of a larger conspiracy to malign his reputation. He asserted that there was no direct evidence linking him to the recovered cash and called for a fair and impartial inquiry.
The Delhi High Court emphasized the paramount importance of judicial accountability and public confidence in the judiciary. The Court reiterated that "transparency in judicial administration is a cornerstone of public trust, and any concerns regarding judicial integrity must be addressed with utmost diligence." It further noted that "ensuring an impartial and corruption-free judiciary is essential to the democratic framework of the nation."
In light of the ongoing investigation and to ensure the effective functioning of the judicial system, the Delhi High Court decided to reconstitute its administrative committees, removing Justice Varma from his positions. Furthermore, on March 24, the Supreme Court Collegium resolved to repatriate Justice Varma to his parent court, the Allahabad High Court. The decision underscores the judiciary’s commitment to maintaining transparency and upholding the highest standards of judicial ethics.
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