New Delhi, Mar 23 (V7N) – A fire broke out at the official residence of Delhi High Court Justice Yashwant Verma, leading to a shocking discovery that has triggered widespread discussions and criticism across India. While firefighters were working to extinguish the flames, they found bundles of cash inside one of the rooms, raising serious questions about the source of the money.

The incident took place while Justice Verma was not in Delhi. His family members alerted the fire service, who swiftly responded and brought the fire under control. However, the presence of large amounts of money in his residence has now become a matter of national concern. Delhi police were also present at the scene during the firefighting operation.

According to Deutsche Welle, Justice Verma was absent from the Delhi High Court last Friday, reportedly on leave. The Union Home Ministry has since informed the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Sanjiv Khanna, about the incident. In response, the Supreme Court Collegium, consisting of the five most senior judges of the Supreme Court, convened a meeting to discuss the matter.

Following the meeting, the Collegium decided to transfer Justice Verma to the Allahabad High Court as an immediate step. Notably, he was previously transferred from the Allahabad High Court to the Delhi High Court, making this move a reversal of his earlier posting.

The Supreme Court of India has a clear policy for dealing with allegations of corruption, misconduct, or judicial malpractice against judges, as formulated in 1999. According to these guidelines, if a complaint is filed against a judge, the Chief Justice seeks a response from the accused. If the response is unsatisfactory or an investigation is deemed necessary, an internal committee is formed.

This committee typically consists of one Supreme Court judge and two High Court judges. If the investigation finds the allegations serious enough to warrant removal, the committee submits a report to the Chief Justice, who then asks the accused judge to resign. If the judge refuses to step down, the Chief Justice can escalate the matter to the government, paving the way for impeachment in Parliament.

The discovery of cash in Justice Verma’s residence has ignited a national debate about judicial integrity. Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation, and further actions may follow based on the findings.

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