By: Ankush C
In India, the judiciary is the last hope for the common citizen. When governments fail, police ignore complaints, or officials abuse power, it is the court that people turn to. But what happens when the court itself becomes questionable? When a High Court judge is found with crores of unaccounted cash? What happens when the system tries to silence the noise instead of seeking truth?
This is the story of Justice Yashwant Varma—a respected judge of the Delhi High Court—whose official residence caught fire in March 2025. Firefighters, while putting out the flames, reportedly discovered gunny bags full of cash—bundles of currency that raised serious concerns. But instead of a criminal investigation, there was only a quiet transfer and an in-house inquiry.
This article explores what this means for India, for the judiciary, and for the common citizen who still believes in the power of justice.
Crores in Cash, But No FIR
The fire that broke out at Justice Yashwant Varma’s residence was shocking enough. But what followed was even more disturbing. Firefighters claimed to have found burning bundles of cash, some saved, some reduced to ashes. News channels and online platforms were flooded with images and speculation.
But what was the response?
- No First Information Report (FIR) was filed.
- No Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid followed.
- No arrest, no questioning, no forensic audit.
Instead, the judge was transferred to the Allahabad High Court, and a confidential three-member inquiry was set up under internal judicial mechanisms.
Had a government clerk or a school teacher been found with even a fraction of this cash, they would have been arrested within hours. Their entire family would face social and legal consequences. But when a High Court judge is involved, the silence is deafening.
What Does the Law Say?
Under the Indian Constitution, High Court judges can only be removed through a very strict and lengthy process under Article 217 read with Article 124(4). This is to protect the independence of the judiciary from political pressure.
But here’s the key question:
Does this independence mean immunity from the law?
Criminal accountability is a separate matter. If there is clear evidence of illegal cash, the judge should be subject to criminal laws like:
- Prevention of Corruption Act
- Income Tax Act
- Indian Penal Code (IPC)
Yet, the system seems to hide behind procedure, rather than push for justice.
Justice or Protection?
The transfer of Justice Varma was described as a “routine administrative move.” But people are not fools. The public can see the pattern—silence, transfer, and slow internal action. No transparency. No urgency. No justice.
This raises serious doubts:
- Is the judicial system protecting one of its own?
- Is there a fear that prosecuting a sitting judge will damage the image of the judiciary?
- If a judge is guilty, shouldn’t the system act faster to protect its own credibility?
Protecting a wrongdoer does not protect the institution. It damages it forever.
What About Public Trust?
Let’s be clear: Not all judges are corrupt. In fact, most work hard, under pressure, and with deep commitment. But even one such case shakes the entire system.
It tells people that:
- Power protects power.
- Laws are not equal.
- Justice is not blind—it just chooses not to see.
So where does a common man go?
When the courts become questionable, there is no higher door left to knock.
What Needs to Change: A People’s Judicial Reform
We cannot depend on silence. We need systemic change, rooted in constitutional values but adapted to modern realities.
1. Independent Investigations for Judges
Serious cases involving judges must be investigated by a non-judicial body, with constitutional status, to ensure neutrality.
2. Time-Bound Legal Action
All such cases must be completed within a fixed period (e.g., 6 months) to avoid endless delays.
3. Transparency in Assets
Like IAS officers and MPs, judges should be required to publicly declare their assets every year.
4. Strong Whistleblower Protection
Anyone in the judiciary—clerks, assistants, staff—should be protected by law if they expose wrongdoing.
5. Equal Application of Law
Let us not treat a judge accused of crime differently from a citizen accused of the same. Justice must be equal for all.
The Real Defamation: Silence
Some argue that prosecuting a judge publicly will “defame the judiciary.” But let us ask:
- Isn’t silence more damaging?
- Isn’t public trust more important than internal image?
The real defamation is when courts don’t act on their own wrongdoers.
The real defamation is when the public sees two Indias—one for the elite, one for everyone else.
Final Thoughts: Where Will the People Go?
The biggest tragedy is not the presence of cash. It is the absence of response.
Crores of rupees, hidden in a judge’s home, should have triggered shock, action, and accountability. Instead, it triggered fear, silence, and slow whispers.
India deserves better. Its people deserve better. The Constitution deserves better.
Let us remember—a judge is not above the law. The law is above all.
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