The Allahabad High Court Bar Association strongly opposed the transfer of Justice Yashwant Verma by the Supreme Court Collegium after a stash of cash allegedly worth 15 crores was found at his Delhi residence following a fire incident.
Strongly objecting to the repatriation of Justice Verma, the Bar Association, in a letter to the Chief Justice and other judges of the Allahabad High Court, said that the Allahabad High Court is not a “trash bin” and raised concerns about the appointment process by the SC Collegium that has caused damage to “public faith in judiciary.”
“Today, we were taken aback that the Hon’ble Supreme Court has transferred Hon’ble Justice Yashwant Verma back to Allahabad High Court on the ground of his involvement in corruption wherein a sum of Rs. 15 crores has been found in his bungalow by the fire department. Newspapers have reported this fact on the front page,” the lawyers group said.
Questioning the decision of the SC Collegium, the lawyers group said, “This decision of the collegium of the Supreme Court raises a serious question as to whether the Allahabad High Court is a trash bin? This matter becomes important when we examine the current situation wherein the Allahabad High Court is short of hon’ble judges and despite the continuous problems, new judges have not been appointed for many years. It is also of grave concern that while appointing judges by elevating members of the Bar, the Bar was never consulted. Consideration of eligibility appears to be not up to the mark.”
“Something is lacking which has resulted in corruption and consequently, great damage has been caused to the ‘public faith in judiciary,'” the letter read.
Meanwhile, Supreme Court has also initiated an In-House inquiry against Justice Yashwant Verma, as per reports.
