The Allahabad High Court Bar Association on Friday opposed the transfer of current Delhi High Court Judge, Justice Yashwant Verma. The association remarked that 'Allahabad High Court is not a trash bin.' Large amounts of cash were reportedly found at Justice Verma's official residence, sparking controversy. The Bar Association emphasized that it is not a 'dumping ground.'
According to news agency PTI, the association passed a resolution stating, 'We were surprised to learn of the Supreme Court's decision to transfer Justice Yashwant Verma to Allahabad High Court.'
This resolution bears the signature of the association's president, senior advocate Anil Tiwari. The resolution claims that illegal cash worth 150 million rupees was recovered from Justice Verma's official residence.
Read Also: Justice Yashwant Verma Cash Scandal: How Difficult Is It to Remove a High Court Judge? Understand the Process
Swift Action by Supreme Court
The Supreme Court, noting the matter, decided promptly to send Justice Yashwant Verma to Allahabad High Court. The association raised concerns about this decision, questioning, 'Does the Supreme Court's collegium consider Allahabad High Court a dumping ground?'
The association mentioned that the High Court is already grappling with a severe shortage of judges, resulting in case hearings being delayed for months, reducing public trust in the judicial system.
Initial Investigation Against Justice Verma Commences
Under Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the Supreme Court collegium has initiated the process to transfer Justice Verma from Delhi High Court to Allahabad High Court. A preliminary inquiry is also underway, with a request for a report from the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court.
Read Also: Hoard of Cash... Investigation Process Initiated Against Justice Yashwant Verma by Supreme Court
Who is Justice Verma?
Justice Yashwant Verma, aged 56, was registered as an advocate in 1992. He was appointed as an Additional Judge of Allahabad High Court on October 13, 2014, and took the oath as a permanent judge on February 1, 2016. Born on January 6, 1969, in Allahabad, he completed his B.Com (Honours) from Hansraj College, Delhi University, and obtained an LLB from Rewa University, Madhya Pradesh.
He practiced constitutional, labor, and industrial laws, along with corporate law, taxation, and related laws at Allahabad High Court. From 2006, he served as a Special Counsel to the High Court and was the Principal Standing Counsel for the Government of Uttar Pradesh from 2012 to 2013. In 2013, he was designated as a Senior Advocate.
