"We Are Not Trash Bin": Allahabad High Court Bar Association On Transfer Of Justice Yashwant Verma After Cash Recovery From Residence
Justice Yashwant Verma was originally elevated as a judge in the Allahabad High Court. It is noteworthy that he was previously based in Allahabad and was transferred to the Delhi High Court in October 2021.
The decision of the Supreme Court Collegium to transfer Justice Yashwant Verma of the Delhi High Court back to his parent High Court, the Allahabad High Court over allegations of corruption has raised serious concerns among legal experts and members of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association.
The members of the Association have questioned whether the Allahabad High Court is now being used as a “trash bin” for judges implicated in corruption, given the chronic shortage of judges and the resultant backlog of cases. The Bar Association has expressed alarm that the current state of affairs is eroding public faith in the judiciary and impairing the rule of law.
"Today, we were taken aback that Hon'ble Supreme Court has transferred Hon'ble Justice Yashwant Verma back to Allahabad High Court on the ground of his involvement in corruption wherein a sum of Rs. 15 crores has been found in his bungalow by the fire department," the Association stated in a letter issued to the Chief Justice and other judges of the High Court.
The transfer comes in the wake of reports that a fire incident at Justice Verma’s bungalow in Delhi led to the recovery of unaccounted cash reportedly totalling Rs. 15 crores by the fire department and police. This revelation, widely reported on the front pages of national newspapers, has sent shockwaves through the judiciary and the legal fraternity. According to reports, the fire broke out at Justice Verma’s residential bungalow, prompting family members to call the fire brigade and the police. After the fire was doused, officials discovered a large sum of cash in one of the rooms.
The matter was immediately taken up by the Supreme Court, and following an internal review by the Supreme Court Collegium, it was unanimously decided to repatriate Justice Verma to the Allahabad High Court.
Justice Verma was originally elevated as a judge in the Allahabad High Court. It is noteworthy that he was previously based in Allahabad and was transferred to the Delhi High Court in October 2021.
The letter by the Association further stated, "This decision of the collegium of the Supreme Court raises a serious question as to whether the Allahabad High Court is trash bin? This matter becomes important when we examine the Member of Governing Council current situation wherein the Allahabad High Court is short of hon'ble judges and despite the continuous problems, new judges have not been appointed since last many years. It is also of grave concern that while appointing judges by elevating members of the Bar, the Bar was never consulted. Consideration of eligibility appears to be not upto the mark. Something is lacking which has resulted in corruption and consequently, a great damage has been caused to the "public faith in judiciary". We cannot say that this situation is not in the knowledge of the Hon'ble Apex Court. Time and again Hon'ble Apex Court has observed about the Allahabad High Court like "Something rotten in Allahabad High Court."
In addition, the Supreme Court’s recent order dated February 3, 2025, by a Division Bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan in the matter of Kamlabai v. High Court of Judicature at Allahabad and others highlighted systemic issues, including the “collapse of the listing system,” further compounding concerns about the efficient administration of justice at the Allahabad High Court.
Amid these developments, the Bar Association has taken a proactive stance. Citing a possible conspiracy to divide and destabilize the Allahabad High Court, the association has announced an emergent General House meeting of its members, scheduled for March 24, 2025. The meeting aims to deliberate on the alarming developments and chart a course of action to restore public confidence in the judicial system.
"Presently, we are facing so many problems particularly a shortage of judges resulting into fresh cases not being heard for months thereby diminishing the faith of public in the rule of law but it does not mean that we are a trash bin. We are not ready to accept Bar Association feels that a conspiracy behind al these factors to divide the Allahabad High Court in parts, for which, we will resolve against the end. The concern of Bar Association is only to maintain the faith and confidence of public in the judiciary. In this situation, we are compelled to convene an emergent General House so that the suitable decision be taken by the members of the Bar. The General House is notified to be held on 24.03.2025 (Monday) at 01:15 P.M. in Library Hall of the Association. All members are requested to attend the meeting as the matter is about the existence of the judiciary," the letter stated.
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