LEADERS of six High Court bar associations on Thursday met Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and sought withdrawal of the recommendation to transfer Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad High Court. Soon after the meeting, Allahabad High Court Bar Association (AHCBA) president Anil Tiwari said the CJI had assured them of considering the demands. However, the CJI did not promise anything, said sources privy to the development. The representatives of six High Court bar associations met the CJI and four collegium members, Justices B R Gavai, Surya Kant, Abhay S Oka and Vikram Nath They raised several demands, including setting in motion criminal action over the cash discovery from the judge’s official home.

 

“The five members (of the collegium) listened to us very carefully and told us in a positive way‘eachandevery point raisedby you in writingwillbe consideredbyus strictlywithin the premises of law. Don’t worry at all’. This is a very big statement by five senior judges,”Tiwaritoldmediapersons soon after the meeting. He said the bar body would reconsider whether or not to continue with the indefinite strike. “I do not know what decision will be taken,” he said. The CJI referred to the reasons behind collegium’s recommendation to transfer Justice Varma to his parent HighCourtatAllahabad,Tiwari added.

 

The CJI said in any case, Justice Varma, who was derostered by the Delhi High Court following a directive from him, wouldn’t be dischargingany judicial function at the Allahabad HighCourt as well, he said. Thebarbodywoulddiscuss about the strike in its general body meeting for a “collective decision”. “All HighCourts in India are standinginsupport of the president of AHCBA and advocates of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association.Theyare really sacrificing their profession forthe cause ofthe nation, for the cause of ensuring a transparent judiciary,the safe judiciary campaign, which we, we have all launched,” another bar leader said. He saidthe barleaders have brought to the notice of the CJI the larger issue of corruption in the judiciary.