Six bar heads from the Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, and Allahabad High Courts, along with the Lucknow Bar Association, have urged Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna to stay the transfer order of Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma after a significant amount of cash was found at his residence.

Later, CJI Sanjiv Khanna agreed to meet the heads of the Bar Associations.  

In their letter, the associations have called for accountability and a thorough investigation into the cash recovery from Justice Yashwant Varma’s residence at 30, Tughlaq Crescent.

They have also urged that the report by Delhi High Court Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyay be made public and that clear guidelines be established regarding judicial accountability.  

Additionally, the Bar Associations have requested the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court Collegium to revoke Justice Varma’s transfer and withdraw all administrative responsibilities assigned to him, in addition to the judicial work that has already been withdrawn.

"The Presidents of the Bar Association will meet at Allahabad in the event of non-withdrawal of the transfer order of Justice Yashwant Varma to show solidarity with the High Court Bar Association of Allahabad," a joint statement read.

The statement comes amid opposition from the Allahabad High Court Bar Association to Justice Yashwant Varma’s transfer to his parent court after he was de-rostered by the Delhi High Court following a directive from the Chief Justice of India.  

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court’s three-member in-house committee is set to meet Justice Varma this week as part of its inquiry.

Ahead of the proceedings, he has sought legal counsel from senior advocates Siddharth Aggarwal, Maneka Guruswamy, Arundhati Katju, and advocate Tara Narula.

The findings of this crucial inquiry will determine the fate of Justice Yashwant Varma, who faces allegations that "four to five semi-burnt sacks of Indian currency notes" were discovered at his residence after a fire broke out on March 14.  

Justice Varma has firmly denied the accusations, asserting that neither he nor any of his family members ever placed cash in the storeroom of his house.