The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday rejected a public interest litigation (PIL) petition that sought to challenge the transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court. The court emphasized that it lacks the authority to intervene in such matters on the judicial side, as the transfer falls under administrative jurisdiction.
The PIL, filed by advocate Vikash Chaturvedi through advocate Ashok Pandey, argued that Justice Varma’s transfer violated constitutional provisions and undermined the sanctity of the judicial oath, particularly in light of an ongoing in-house inquiry against him. The plea further contended that administering the oath to Justice Varma, who has been directed not to undertake judicial work by the Supreme Court, would reduce the process to a mere formality.
The controversy surrounding Justice Varma’s transfer stems from a fire incident at his Delhi residence on March 14, 2025, where unaccounted cash was allegedly recovered by firefighters. Following this, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended his repatriation to the Allahabad High Court, his parent court, on March 20, 2025. The Central government approved the transfer on March 28, 2025, and Justice Varma took oath as an Allahabad High Court judge in a private ceremony on April 5, 2025, amidst objections from the Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA).
The HCBA had condemned the “clandestine” manner of the oath-taking, calling it a violation of legal norms and traditions. The association also urged the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court not to assign judicial or administrative work to Justice Varma, citing the ongoing probe into the cash recovery allegations.
The Allahabad High Court, in its ruling, clarified that matters related to judicial transfers are beyond its judicial purview, effectively dismissing the PIL. Meanwhile, pursuant to Supreme Court directions, Justice Varma has not been assigned any judicial work at the Allahabad High Court pending the outcome of the in-house inquiry led by a three-member committee constituted by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna.
