A committee of three judges arrived at the residence of Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Verma following the discovery of partially burnt notes during a fire. The committee remained there for approximately 45 minutes and inspected the room where the burnt notes were found. The procedure and guidelines for the investigation will be determined by the committee itself.
According to sources, the inquiry committee has left the premises of Justice Yashwant Verma's official residence. The team, which spent some time at the judge's governmental residence, included Chief Justice Sheel Nagu of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, and Justice Anu Shivraman of the Karnataka High Court. It is reported that they visited the room where the fire had occurred. The committee stayed at the residence for 45 minutes.
Justice Verma will not serve in Allahabad High Court either
Post the submission of the report by the three judges to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, further actions will follow concerning Justice Verma's case. Even if the transfer recommendation by the central government for Justice Yashwant Verma is approved, he will not be able to handle judicial duties in the Allahabad High Court.
The orders currently applicable in Delhi High Court will remain in effect at Allahabad High Court as well. The Supreme Court has clarified that actions against Justice Verma are not limited to just a transfer. This development is expected to have far-reaching implications within the judiciary.
Justice Verma's transfer is separate from inquiry
Justice Verma's transfer is independent and separate from the in-house inquiry, as transfers of High Court judges occur through the collegium, not through committees. Within the framework of in-house inquiries regarding charges against judges, only the Chief Justice of India is involved. The CJI will request reports from the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court regarding such incidents.
Justice Verma is a senior judge in the Delhi High Court and is also a member of the collegium. Since the alleged incident occurred in Delhi, the Supreme Court's collegium has recommended transferring Justice Verma back to his original High Court, the Allahabad High Court.
