While strongly criticising the transfer of Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad High Court, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) president Anil Tiwari here on Friday called it the “darkest day for India’s judiciary” and announced they will boycott his swearing-in ceremony.
Justice Varma’s transfer was notified by the Union Law Ministry on Friday, days after the Supreme Court Collegium recommended his repatriation to the Allahabad HC over allegations of a huge amount of a cash being discovered at his residential premises following an incident of fire.
The Supreme Court Collegium made the recommendation on Monday (March 24).
It is significant to note that the Allahabad High Court lawyers have been on strike from the next day, Friday being the fourth day of protest against the transfer.
Talking to newsmen on Friday, Allahabad High Court Bar Association president Anil Tiwari issued a statement, saying, “The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has decided to boycott and protest his swearing-in ceremony. Our strike may change its form, but the fight will continue.”
The HCBA’s president, Anil Tiwari, further stated, “I do not know what compelled the government to issue this transfer notification, but we still trust that it will intervene. We have called an emergency meeting tonight with senior advocates to decide our next course of action.”
Asserting that the transfer was unfair, Tiwari said, “We are fighting for the common people. This is injustice, and the Allahabad High Court has been turned into a dumping ground.”
Earlier in the day, the top court rejected a PIL seeking the Delhi Police to register an FIR over the alleged discovery of burnt wads of cash from Justice Varma’s official residence, calling the petition “premature”.
A division bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan said the in-house inquiry was in progress and there would be several options open to the Chief Justice of India after the probe concludes.
