Supreme Court Addresses Misinformation Surrounding Delhi High Court Judge and Cash Discovery
New Delhi – The Supreme Court of India issued a statement on Friday, March 21, 2025, aiming to clarify the situation surrounding Delhi High Court Justice Yashwant Varma, following reports of a substantial cash discovery at his residence after a fire incident. The court emphasized that misinformation and rumors were circulating regarding the incident and sought to address the matter transparently. The statement clarified the separate nature of the ongoing in-house inquiry and the Collegium’s proposal to transfer Justice Varma to the Allahabad High Court.
The Supreme Court underscored the established in-house inquiry procedure, detailed in the cases of C. Ravichandran Iyer v. Justice A.M. Bhattacharjee (1995) and Additional District and Sessions Judge ‘X’ v. Registrar General, High Court of Madhya Pradesh (2015). These established procedures, available on the Supreme Court’s website, guide the investigation into judicial conduct. Following the reported incident, Delhi High Court Chief Justice initiated this established inquiry, independent of the transfer proposal. The Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, having commenced the inquiry before the Collegium’s meeting on March 20, 2025, is set to submit a report to the Chief Justice of India on March 21, 2025. This report will be reviewed to determine further action.
Crucially, the Supreme Court stressed the distinction between the in-house inquiry and the separate proposal for Justice Varma’s transfer. The transfer proposal to the Allahabad High Court, Justice Varma’s parent High Court where his seniority would be ninth, is unrelated to the ongoing inquiry. The proposal was considered by the Collegium, comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and four senior-most Supreme Court judges, on March 20, 2025. Following this, letters were sent to relevant consultee judges in the Supreme Court and High Courts, as well as to Justice Varma himself. The Collegium will make its final decision upon reviewing the responses.
The statement serves to dispel speculation linking the transfer directly to the cash discovery incident. The timing of the two events, occurring in close proximity, led to widespread conjecture. The Supreme Court’s statement provides clarity, indicating that the transfer proposal is separate from the inquiry.
Sources indicate that the fire at Justice Varma’s residence occurred on March 14, 2025. Justice Varma was reportedly not present at the time. It was during the fire-fighting operations that the cash was discovered in a room, leading fire personnel and police to alert higher authorities. The information reached the Chief Justice of India, prompting the Collegium meeting on March 20, 2025. Justice Varma has not yet commented publicly on the discovered cash.
The incident and the ensuing developments have generated significant public attention and discussion. The Supreme Court’s statement is a step towards transparency and due process, ensuring that both the inquiry and the transfer proposal are handled independently and according to established procedures. The Collegium’s final decision on Justice Varma’s transfer, once available, will be posted on the Supreme Court website. The public awaits the results of the in-house inquiry and the Collegium’s final decision. These outcomes will play a significant role in determining the next steps in this unfolding situation. The incident also highlights the importance of judicial transparency and raises questions regarding the financial conduct of judges. The Supreme Court’s proactive communication is aimed at assuring public confidence in the judiciary’s commitment to address such matters thoroughly and fairly.