Cash row: CJI Sanjiv Khanna to 'consider' bar bodies' demand on proposed transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma to Allahabad HC

NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Thursday held a meeting with several leaders of various bar associations to discuss the proposed transfer of Delhi high court judge Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad high court in connection with the cash row and assured to "consider" their demand.

"CJI assured to consider our demand over Justice Yashwant Varma's transfer," Allahabad bar body head Anil Tiwari was quoted as saying by the news agency PTI. He also said that Allahabad bar body will reconsider whether to continue with the indefinite strike after meeting with the CJI, and other SC judges.

Earlier in the day, several bar associations submitted a memorandum to the office of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, requesting the withdrawal of the collegium’s recommendation to transfer Delhi high court judge Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad high court. The bar associations of high courts in Allahabad, Gujarat, Kerala, Jabalpur, Karnataka, and Lucknow made the submission.

The memorandum also raised concerns about an incident at Justice Varma’s official residence, where burnt cash was reportedly found on March 14 after a fire. The bar bodies questioned why no FIR had been registered regarding the incident.

The Allahabad high court Bar Association began an indefinite strike on March 25 to oppose Justice Varma’s transfer to his parent high court.

Moreover, Delhi Police on Wednesday sealed the storeroom at Justice Yashwant Varma’s residence and conducted a videography of the premises.

The discovery of cash was reported after a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s residence in Lutyens’ Delhi at around 11:35 pm on March 14. Fire officials responded to the incident.

Following the incident, the Supreme Court collegium recommended sending Justice Varma back to the Allahabad high court. The Delhi high court had earlier withdrawn his work, acting on a directive from the CJI.

On March 22, the CJI formed a three-member committee to conduct an in-house inquiry into the matter. It was also decided that the inquiry report by Delhi high court Chief Justice D K Upadhyay would be made public.

Justice Varma has denied the allegations and siad that no cash was placed in the storeroom by him or his family members.