Senior Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Verma has become a focal point of discussion. Recently, a fire incident occurred at his official residence in Delhi. While Justice Verma was away, his family called upon the fire brigade for assistance, who quickly dispatched a team to his Lutyens' home. Reports have claimed that a large sum of cash was found during the firefighting operation. However, the fire brigade dismissed the claims of cash recovery.
This incident occurred on the night of Holi, March 14. Meanwhile, on March 20, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Sanjiv Khanna, called for a collegium meeting. It was during this time that the proposal for Justice Verma's transfer to Allahabad High Court emerged. The following day, the entire matter surfaced, sparking speculation.
In fact, media reports claimed that following the fire at Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Verma's residential bungalow, a large sum of cash had been recovered, prompting the Supreme Court Collegium, led by CJI Sanjiv Khanna, to decide on transferring Justice Verma to another High Court.
However, a new twist emerged when Delhi Fire Brigade Chief Atul Garg asserted that no cash was found by firefighters at Justice Verma's residence. Garg reported that at 11:35 PM on March 14, a fire alert was received at the control room, and two fire tenders were immediately dispatched to the spot. By 11:43 PM, the fire tenders had arrived. The fire had erupted in a storage room packed with stationery and household items. It took 15 minutes to control the blaze. No casualties were reported. Immediately after extinguishing the fire, the incident was reported to the police. Consequently, the fire department team left the scene, having found no cash during the firefight.
This incident triggered reactions nationwide, with many calling for the judge’s resignation, while some criticized the transfer decision. The episode echoed in the Rajya Sabha on Friday.
Justice Verma did not attend court on Friday nor did he release any statement. The court master noted that the bench was on leave on Friday, allowing urgent matters to be mentioned before another bench. Justice Verma currently presides over the bench for significant cases involving sales tax, GST, and company appeals at the Delhi High Court. Appointed on October 11, 2021, he is the second most senior judge at Delhi High Court.
Presently, Justice Yashwant Verma is being transferred from Delhi High Court back to Allahabad High Court. However, it's still unclear how much cash was found at his Delhi house. The Supreme Court is investigating this case. A late Friday evening statement from the Supreme Court addressed widely circulated rumors related to the incident at Justice Verma's bungalow. The Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, DK Upadhyay, has initiated an in-house investigation into the matter, promising to submit a report to the CJI, followed by necessary actions.
The Supreme Court clarified that Justice Verma's transfer proposal and the ongoing investigation are separate concerns. The SC confirmed that the collegium meeting to discuss the alleged incident occurred, with CJI and four senior judges discussing the proposal to transfer Justice Verma. Letters were then sent to all consulting judges of the apex court, including the concerned High Court's Chief Justice. Feedback will be reviewed before passing the collegium proposal.
HC Chief Justice Upadhyay expressed astonishment at the entire situation, stating that everyone is bewildered. HC's Chief Justice's response was prompted after senior attorney Arun Bhardwaj remarked on advocates' distress and surprise about the incident, suggesting administrative steps should be employed.
The Allahabad High Court Bar Association also opposed Justice Verma's transfer, asserting, "We are not a dustbin." The proposal expressed shock at the Supreme Court's decision to transfer Justice Yashwant Verma back to Allahabad High Court, citing cash recovery statistics within the proposal.
Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said he would find a way for an organized discussion on the issue. Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh raised the subject, seeking a response from the Chairman on judicial accountability while reminding him of an impeachment notice concerning a High Court judge pending in Allahabad.
Congress remarked that the matter couldn't be solely dismissed by a transfer, stressing the necessity to identify the cash's ownership to preserve public faith in the judiciary. Meanwhile, BJP emphasized not commenting on court cases, as the Chief Justice is already considering the matter. Legal experts offered strong opinions on the incident, questioning the collegium and calling for Justice Verma's resignation.
Senior advocate Vikas Singh described the situation as grave, suggesting the judge should be asked to resign. Meanwhile, senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi advised the Supreme Court conduct an internal probe, allowing the judge to explain, before establishing all facts. Senior advocate Indira Jaising emphasized the need for the Supreme Court collegium to provide a full, unreserved disclosure, expressing surprise over information about the alleged March 14 incident emerging on March 21.
The Delhi High Court's website details that Justice Verma enrolled as an advocate on August 8, 1992. He was appointed an Additional Judge at Allahabad High Court on October 13, 2014, and took oath as a Permanent Judge on February 1, 2016.
An internal inquiry system exists within the Supreme Court for addressing allegations against constitutional court judges. The Chief Justice initially seeks the judge's response following a preliminary investigation. A panel comprising three Supreme Court judges then examines the matter. Actions can be taken based on the panel's report. Removing a constitutional court judge requires an impeachment motion passed by Parliament.
No judge in India has ever been impeached, though proceedings have occurred for some judges, who resigned before completion.
