Yashwant Varma

Yashwant Varma is an Indian judge currently serving on the Allahabad High Court in the state of Uttar Pradesh. He previously served as a judge of the Delhi High Court from October 2021 to April 2025.

Early life

He was born in Prayagraj and pursued a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree at Hansraj College, Delhi University. He later obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from Awadhesh Pratap Singh University, Madhya Pradesh.

Career

Varma enrolled as an advocate on 8 August 1992 and served as special counsel for the Allahabad High Court from 2006 until his elevation to the bench. In October 2014, he was appointed as an additional judge of the Allahabad High Court and was sworn in as a permanent judge in February 2016. He was transferred to the Delhi High Court in October 2021, and repatriated to Allahabad High Court in April 2025.

Cash row

In 2025, a large sum of cash was discovered at his residence during a fire on March 14. An enquiry report was also published by the Supreme Court on the matter and due to the sensitivity of the matter, the Supreme Court decided to keep the report redacted from the public and parliamentary scrutiny. On 21st July 2025 over 200 MPs of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha signed a motion in parliament to impeach him. On August 12, 2025, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced a three-member inquiry committee to investigate the charges against Varma.