PRAYAGRAJ: Lawyers at Allahabad high court shut down judicial work indefinitely Tuesday, launching a protest against Supreme Court collegium’s decision to transfer Delhi HC judge Justice Yashwant Varma to their court.
Allahabad HC Bar Association accused the judiciary’s top decision-makers of betraying the system by repatriating a judge facing corruption allegations.
“This fight is not against any court or judge – it’s against those who have compromised the integrity of the judiciary,” the Bar association’s president Anil Tiwari said. “Repatriating a judge accused of corruption to his parent high court is no punishment, it’s a reward.”
The bar association passed a resolution Monday calling for Justice Varma’s impeachment and has now escalated its demand, urging CJI Sanjiv Khanna to order an FIR and investigations by CBI, ED, and other agencies.
Justice Varma is at the centre of a firestorm after a stash of cash was discovered at his official residence following a fire in a storeroom on March 14, triggering a Supreme Court-ordered in-house inquiry. He has denied any wrongdoing and alleged a conspiracy to frame him.
The lawyers called on Union govt to reject the SC collegium’s recommendation outright. “Allahabad HC is not a dumping ground for corrupt and tainted judges,” the association said in a statement, vowing to continue their strike until the transfer order is scrapped.
