HC Bar Association Announces Indefinite Strike Over SC Collegium Proposal To Move Justice Yashwant Varma To Allahabad HC

The Allahabad High Court Bar Association, aggrieved by the Supreme Court Collegium's recommendation to transfer Justice Yashwant Varma from Delhi HC to Allahabad HC, has announced an indefinite strike starting tomorrow. The Association has also requested the Central Government to intervene in this decision of the Supreme Court Collegium and have it immediately dismissed."In the General Assembly of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association held today, on 24.03.2025, a proposal was passed unanimously stating that we will strongly oppose any future attempts to transfer Hon'ble Justice Shri Yashwant Varma of the Hon'ble Allahabad High Court. However, despite this, the Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting today, ignored the demand of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association and passed an order for the transfer of Hon'ble Justice Shri Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad High Court. Deeply upset by this, we have unanimously decided to abstain from judicial work until further notice," the HC Bar Association's resolution states.Requesting support from its members "to protect the dignity of the Hon'ble Allahabad High Court", the Bar Association has also informed that the Photo Affidavit Centre will remain closed indefinitely starting March 26 due to the cessation of judicial work. The Association has also warned that if all the oath commissioners and government advocates working at the High Court are found performing their duties from Tuesday, the Association will not raise any objections to the actions taken against them by the High Court Bar Association.Earlier today, the Supreme Court Collegium officially recommended the transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma, who is facing an in-house inquiry over allegations of cash stash discovery from his official premises, from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court.Justice Varma became a centre of controversy on March 21 after the publication of news reports that a fire at a storeroom in the outhouse of his official bungalow led to the discovery of sacks of cash currencies.On Saturday, CJI Sanjiv Khanna constituted a 3-member committee to conduct an inquiry into the matter as part of the in-house procedure. This decision was taken after a report was given by Delhi High Court Chief Justice, DK Upadhyay, that the matter required a deeper probe.On Saturday night, the Supreme Court published on its website the report of the Delhi HC CJ, the response of Justice Varma and the photographs and video shared by the Delhi Police Commissioner.The fire incident occurred on March 14 at the residential office of Justice Varma when he was out of town.Delhi High Chief Justice Upadhyay was informed by the Commissioner of Police Delhi in the evening around 4:50 pm on March 15 about the fire which happened at Justice Varma's bungalow on March 14 at 11.30 PM.Justice Varma has denied the possession of cash and claimed it to be a conspiracy against him.On March 24, the Delhi High Court withdrew judicial work from Justice Varma in pursuance of directions from the Apex Court.

HC Bar Association Announces Indefinite Strike Over SC Collegium Proposal To Move Justice Yashwant Varma To Allahabad HC

Sparsh Upadhyay

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