Fire at Delhi Judge’s Bungalow Leads to Cash Recovery; Justice Yashwant Verma Transferred
Justice Yashwant Verma of the Delhi High Court has been transferred back to the Allahabad High Court following the Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendation, after a fire at his official residence led to the discovery of a large amount of unaccounted cash.
Sources reported that while Justice Verma was out of the city, his family alerted the fire brigade when a fire broke out at his bungalow. Upon extinguishing the fire, officials found significant amounts of cash in multiple rooms. The discovery was documented in the incident report, prompting immediate action from the judiciary.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna swiftly convened a Collegium meeting, where it was unanimously decided to transfer Justice Verma to his parent court. Discussions are also underway regarding a formal investigation and potential impeachment proceedings.
Some Collegium judges expressed concerns that mere transfer would harm the judiciary’s credibility and suggested that Justice Verma resign voluntarily. If he refuses, impeachment proceedings could be initiated in Parliament.
As per the Supreme Court’s in-house procedure, established in 1999, allegations against judges are first examined by the CJI. If necessary, an in-house panel is formed to investigate, potentially leading to resignation or impeachment.
The case has sparked intense discussions on judicial accountability, with legal experts and public figures calling for strict measures to uphold the judiciary’s integrity. Further actions are expected following the probe’s outcome.
