Prayagraj,

25 March (HS): On Tuesday, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association began an

indefinite strike to protest the proposed transfer of Delhi High Court Justice

Yashwant Varma to the high court here. Leading the protesting lawyers gathered

at the high court's gate number 3, Bar Association President Anil Tiwari told

reporters that this protest is not against any court or judge, but rather

against those who have betrayed the judicial system.

He

went on to say, Our fight is against those who commit corruption and against

a system that lacks transparency. For

the time being, we are requesting a reconsideration and withdrawal of the

transfer order.”

On

Monday, the Bar Association restated its objection to Justice Varma's move and

announced an indefinite strike beginning Tuesday. Tiwari claimed that the

association was ready for a full-fledged battle on this issue. There has been an attempt to conceal this

matter since its inception. Lawyers from

all over India are currently fighting this battle. We will not resume work until a resolution is

reached, regardless of the consequences, he said.

The

Supreme Court collegium on Monday confirmed its decision to recommend that

Justice Varma, who is being investigated for the alleged discovery of large

sums of cash at his official residence and whose judicial work has been

withdrawn, be transferred to his parent Allahabad High Court. The transfer

recommendation to the Centre was made public in a resolution posted on the

Supreme Court website. The alleged cash discovery occurred after a fire broke

out at Varma's Delhi residence around 11.35 p.m. on March 14, prompting

firefighters to rush to the scene and extinguish it.

The

Supreme Court collegium, led by CJI Sanjiv Khanna, and the Delhi High Court

issued a number of instructions on Monday, including the removal of judicial

duties from Justice Varma. Justice Varma has categorically denied that he or

any of his family members placed any cash in the storage, as well as any

implication that the supposed cash belonged to them.

He

stated that claims of cash finding from his official house looked to be a

scheme to frame and defame him.

On

August 8, 1992, Justice Varma registered as an advocate. On October 13, 2014, he was appointed as an

additional judge for the Allahabad High Court. He took his oath as permanent

judge of the Allahabad High Court on February 1, 2016, before being appointed

as judge of the Delhi High Court on October 11, 2021.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi