The discovery of allegedly partially burnt cash from the government residence of Justice Yashwant Verma has sent ripples through the judiciary. Representatives from various High Court Bar Associations across the country met with the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna on Thursday to address this issue.
New Delhi: The alleged discovery of partially burnt cash from the government residence of Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Verma has caused a stir in judicial circles. Advocates from High Court Bar Associations across various states approached the Supreme Court on Thursday and met with the Chief Justice. They demanded an FIR be filed, given the gravity of the situation.
Anil Tiwari, President of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association, stated after the meeting that the CJI assured them of serious consideration of the matter. He added that the collegium's recommendation, which proposed transferring Justice Verma to the Allahabad High Court, would be reconsidered.
Key Demands of the Bar Associations
The delegation of advocates submitted a memorandum to the CJI, outlining the following demands:
Filing of an FIR – A First Information Report should be filed by the police or another investigating agency regarding the recovery of the partially burnt cash.
Public Release of Investigation Report – The report submitted by the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, DK Upadhyay, should be made publicly available on the Supreme Court's website.
Cancellation of Transfer Order – The recommendation for the transfer of Justice Verma should be revoked.
Restoration of Administrative Duties – All administrative powers withdrawn from Justice Verma should be reinstated.
How Did the Incident Occur?
Following a fire reported at the government residence in Lutyens' Delhi on the night of March 14th, the fire department arrived on the scene. During the investigation, partially burnt cash was found in a storeroom. After the matter gained traction, the Supreme Court collegium recommended Justice Verma's transfer to the Allahabad High Court on March 22nd.
Justice Verma Denies Allegations
Justice Verma has refuted all allegations, stating that neither he nor his family had ever kept cash in the storeroom. He claimed the matter is being misrepresented and should undergo an impartial investigation. All eyes are now on the Supreme Court's decision regarding the demands made by the Bar Associations. This case has raised questions about transparency and credibility within the judiciary, posing a challenge to maintaining public trust in the judicial process.
