Bar Associations Demand Criminal Investigation Against Justice Varma in Cash Row

Last Updated on April 1, 2025 by Amit Patra

For the first time, Bar Associations have come together to issue a collective statement calling upon Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna to initiate criminal proceedings against Justice Yashwant Varma and withdraw his transfer recommendation to Allahabad High Court.

This statement has been signed by Bar Association Presidents from Delhi, Allahabad, Kerala, Karnataka, and Gujarat High Courts, who support the Supreme Court’s openness in publishing materials related to the case but argue that Justice Varma should be treated like any other government servant under standard criminal procedure.

“In these kinds of crimes, there would be involvement of others and non-registration [of an FIR] would adversely affect their prosecution,” reports the case, pointing to the report of Chief Justice, Delhi High Court, that evidence had been cleared from the premises on March 15.

The controversy arose after a fire allegedly broke out at Justice Varma’s official residence on March 14, leading to the recovery of cash. This does not suffice according to Bar Associations, as the CJI has formed a three-member committee to conduct an in-house inquiry.

The Bar Associations made clear pronouncement announcing their association to meet in Allahabad “in the event of non-withdrawal of the transfer order,” registering their sympathy with the Allahabad High Court Bar Association which had already gone an indefinite strike protesting against the transfer of Justice Varma.

The statement also refers to a broader agenda to “lay down accountability standards for judges of higher judiciary” and reconsider all existing in-house procedures, including the “Restatement of Values of Judicial Life” document of the year 1997 and subsequent Bangalore Principles.

This sort of coordinated action by Bar Associations brought a serious challenge to what historically had been done by the judiciary whenever allegations were made against judges. It advocated that ordinary criminal justice processes should apply irrespective of one’s status as a judge.