Allahabad HC Bar Association seeks impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma, calls indefinite strike from tomorrow

The Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) has urged the Chief Justice of India to "immediately recommend" to the central government that impeachment proceedings be opened against Justice Yashwant Varma amid allegations of corruption. The Allahabad HCBA also announced that it will go on indefinite strike from tomorrow, March 25.

The call comes in the wake of allegations that a large sum of cash was discovered at Justice Yashwant Varma's Delhi residence.

The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has escalated its protest against Justice Yashwant Varma, demanding a review of all judgments delivered by him during his tenures at both the Allahabad and Delhi High Courts.

Speaking to reporters, bar body president Anil Tiwari referred to a number of resolutions which said, “The High Court Bar Association opposes any proposed transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma to Allahabad High Court or its Lucknow bench or to any other High Court.”

Allahabad Bar Association calls for scrutiny of past rulings

The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has passed a resolution calling for a thorough review of all judgments delivered by Justice Yashwant Varma during his time as a judge in both the Allahabad and Delhi High Courts.

The association said the review is needed to maintain public trust in the judicial system. The Supreme Court will determine how this review will be conducted.

Supreme Court collegium recommends transfer

The Supreme Court Collegium issued a resolution recommending the transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma, Judge of the High Court of Delhi, back to his parent court, the Allahabad High Court.

Justice Varma, the second-senior judge in the Delhi High Court and a member of the Collegium, will be ranked ninth in seniority at the Allahabad High Court.

The Supreme Court Collegium’s resolution did not provide specific reasons for the transfer of Yashwant Varma.

Call for FIR and investigation

The Allahabad Bar Association further stated that "the CJI should immediately permit the filing of FIR and investigation by the CBI, ED and other investigative agencies with full permission to the investigative agencies to apply the law of the land to every offender".

They also requested that the President of India and the central government take the necessary steps to make the impeachment procedure "quick, easy and transparent by including members of the civil society".

Justice Varma's transfer was opposed

The Allahabad HCBA had opposed the transfer of Justice Varma on March 21. They said that it was not a "trash bin".

"We were taken aback that the Supreme Court has transferred Justice Yashwant Varma back to Allahabad High Court."

The resolution claimed the discovery of the "unaccounted money" from the judge's house was worth ₹15 crore. "The decision of the collegium raises a serious question as to whether the Allahabad High Court is a trash bin," the resolution said.

What is Yashwant Varma cash discovery row?

The cash discovery row centres around Justice Yashwant Varma, a former judge at the Delhi High Court, and the discovery of a substantial amount of cash —reportedly around ₹15 crore— at his residence following a fire on March 14, 2025.

The fire was reported at Justice Varma’s official residence on Tughlak Road at around 11:35 pm on March 14.

Delhi Fire Services (DFS) first responders—including personnel from DFS and possibly the police—are believed to have discovered stacks of cash in the storeroom, some of which were reportedly charred.

Justice Varma and his wife were in Bhopal at the time.

Justice Varma has vehemently denied any connection to the cash, suggesting a conspiracy to malign his reputation.