Justice Yashwant Varma takes oath as Allahabad high court judge amid cash recovery row

NEW DELHI: Justice Yashwant Varma on Saturday took oath as a judge of Allahabad high court, even as a cloud of controversy looms over him after the alleged recovery of semi-burnt sacks of cash from his residence last month.

Despite the swearing-in, court sources confirmed that no judicial work would be assigned to him for the time being.

Justice Varma's transfer from the Delhi high court to the Allahabad high court came amid an ongoing in-house inquiry ordered by the Chief Justice of India (CJI). The inquiry pertains to the discovery of what were described as “four to five semi-burnt sacks” of rupees currency notes found at his residence after a reported fire incident.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed on Wednesday before the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court, seeking to halt the oath-taking ceremony. Filed by advocate Vikash Chaturvedi, the PIL urged the high court’s Chief Justice not to administer the oath until the inquiry concludes.

The controversy has also sparked sharp criticism from the legal fraternity. In a strongly worded letter to the Chief Justice and judges of the high court, the Allahabad high court Bar association, earlier, condemned the Collegium’s decision. "We aren't a trash bin," the association stated, expressing dismay over the appointment.