Advocates from Allahabad High Court have banded together to protest against Justice Yashwant Verma. They arrived at Gate Number-3, calling for an indefinite strike. The Allahabad Bar Association has taken a bold stand in the matter.
The advocates claim they will not tolerate a judge facing corruption charges and insist that his transfer from Delhi High Court to Allahabad should not happen. Previously, the Allahabad Bar Association affirmed that the High Court should not become a dumping ground for judges accused of corruption.
Recently, news emerged that a fire broke out at Justice Yashwant Verma's residence in Delhi, destroying millions in cash. This incident placed him at the center of heated controversy. Amidst this, the decision to transfer Justice Verma from Delhi to Allahabad High Court surfaced, triggering unified opposition from Allahabad lawyers. As of 25th March, they have commenced an indefinite strike, backed by High Court Bar Associations nationwide.
Last Monday, Anil Tiwari, the President of Allahabad High Court Bar Association, held an emergency executive meeting, where it was resolved to continue opposition to the Supreme Court Collegium's decision. Additionally, letters supporting this cause have been dispatched to bar associations of 22 high courts across the country.
Tiwari clarified, "Our fight is not against an individual judge but against a flawed system. Diligent judges now face tarnished reputations. High Courts should not become a refuge for those accused of corruption. If judges under a cloud of suspicion are transferred here, it will destabilize our judiciary."
What's the Full Story?
Recently, a firefighting operation at Justice Yashwant Verma's official residence in Delhi reportedly uncovered a large sum of cash. However, sources indicate that Justice Verma was away at the time. Later, images of charred cash bundles surfaced. Prior to this, the Supreme Court had publicly disclosed its findings on the cash incident.
Following these revelations, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association called for impeachment proceedings against Justice Yashwant Verma due to the corruption allegations. During its General Body Meeting, the Bar Association passed 11 resolutions, notably calling for CBI and ED investigations.
Justice Yashwant Verma's Response
Justice Verma addressed the matter, stating that no cash was visible to his residential staff. He informed Delhi High Court's Chief Justice D. K. Upadhyay of the incident: "When the fire broke out around midnight, my daughter and personal secretary informed the fire services, their calls were recorded. During firefighting, all staff and family members were advised to move away for safety reasons. After the fire was extinguished and they returned, no cash or currency was observed on-site."
