SC Collegium transfers Delhi HC judge after recovering ‘cash pile’ at his residence
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New Delhi: A meeting of the Supreme Court Collegium on Thursday ‘unanimously’ decided to recommend the transfer of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma back to his parent Allahabad High Court.
The five-member collegium made the decision after a report about recovery of cash at his residence during a fire, with a video showed burning cash, The Indian Express reported.
It is reported citing sources aware of the meeting’s details that judges backed Justice Varma’s transfer after the Chief Justice explained the incident.
When CJI Khanna reportedly sought a fact-finding report from Delhi High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya, the Collegium members suggested the CJI to get it earliest.
It was suggested on the grounds that the report could help decide whether an in-house inquiry should be ordered or not.
Meanwhile, sources in Delhi Police reportedly claimed that the fire incident was reported on March 14 at about 11.30 pm.
The Delhi Police source reportedly said: ‘A call regarding a fire in a store room was received. It was a small fire. Two fire vehicles were sent and the fire was doused within 15 minutes.’
The source further said: ‘A Daily Diary entry was made at Tughlak Road police station. But we did not mention any financial recovery part in the report.’
The Fire Chief Atul Garg reportedly termed it a minor fire, adding that details are being collected.
When the fire broke Justice Varma was not home. Fire tenders and police who reached home to douse flames, reportedly found money in a room.
The recovery of the money was reported to police higher-ups and then authorities in the government. Subsequently, the matter was reported to the office of the Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna.
Following this, the CJI called for a meeting of Collegium on Thursday to discuss the case.
The Collegium resolution on the recommendation to transfer the judge is yet to be uploaded, The Indian Express reported.