Prayagraj : The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has strongly objected to the Supreme Court Collegium’s decision to transfer Justice Yashwant Verma back to the Allahabad High Court following allegations of corruption. The Bar Association has expressed serious concerns over the move, questioning whether the High Court is being treated as a “trash bin” for judges facing allegations, reported the Verdictum.
Justice Yashwant Verma, who was originally elevated as a judge in the Allahabad High Court, was transferred to the Delhi High Court in October 2021. However, a recent incident led to his repatriation. A fire at his bungalow in Delhi reportedly led to the recovery of unaccounted cash amounting to ₹15 crores by the fire department and police. This revelation has sparked outrage within the legal fraternity and raised concerns about the credibility of the judiciary.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Justice and other judges of the High Court, the Bar Association stated, “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. This decision raises serious concerns about the integrity of judicial appointments.”
The letter further criticized the systemic issues plaguing the Allahabad High Court, including the chronic shortage of judges and a backlog of cases. The Association highlighted the lack of consultation with the Bar in judicial appointments and emphasized that the situation is damaging public confidence in the judiciary.
The controversy is further compounded by a recent Supreme Court order dated February 3, 2025, in the case of Kamlabai v. High Court of Judicature at Allahabad and others, where a Division Bench, comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan, noted the collapse of the court’s listing system.
In response to these developments, the Bar Association has called for an emergency General House meeting on March 24, 2025, at 1:15 PM in the Library Hall of the Association. The meeting aims to address the issue and discuss steps to restore public faith in the judicial system.
“We are already struggling with a shortage of judges, leading to months-long delays in hearings. But that does not mean we are a trash bin. We are determined to safeguard the judiciary’s integrity,” the Association’s letter concluded.
