The Editor
Justice Verma Steps Away from Court Duties, Transferred to Allahabad High Court
New Delhi, March 24: A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court asking the Delhi Police to register an FIR regarding the alleged recovery of partially burnt bundles of cash from the official residence of Justice Yashwant Verma.
The petition also challenges a 1991 Supreme Court ruling that says criminal action cannot be taken against a High Court or Supreme Court judge without the Chief Justice’s approval.
The cash was allegedly found on March 14 at around 11:35 PM, after a fire broke out at Justice Verma’s government house in Lutyens’ Delhi. Firefighters arrived to put out the fire and discovered the notes.
Following this, on March 18, the Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, along with the Delhi High Court, took action. Justice Verma was removed from judicial work and taken off the court’s schedule until further notice. The Collegium also confirmed his transfer to Allahabad High Court.
Advocate Mathews J. Nedumpara and three others filed the petition on March 23, arguing that the special protection given to judges violates the principle of equality before the law and raises concerns about judicial accountability.
