Justice Yashwant Varma embarked on his legal career after completing his law studies in Madhya Pradesh. He enrolled as an advocate in 1992 and soon established a practice at the Allahabad High Court, specializing in constitutional, labor, industrial, corporate, and taxation laws. Over the years, he gained recognition for his legal acumen and was appointed as the special counsel for the Allahabad High Court in 2006.
In 2012, he was designated as the chief standing counsel for the state of Uttar Pradesh at the Allahabad High Court, a position he held until August 2013. Following this, he was recognized as a senior advocate by the Allahabad High Court, marking a significant milestone in his career. His judicial journey began with his appointment as an additional judge of the Allahabad High Court on October 13, 2014. He was later confirmed as a permanent judge on February 1, 2016.
Tenure at the Delhi High Court
Justice Varma was appointed as a judge of the Delhi High Court on October 11, 2021, nearly seven years after his elevation to the bench at the Allahabad High Court. At Delhi High Court, he became actively involved in the administrative framework, contributing to various committees. He was a member of at least 11 committees, including the ‘Administrative and General Supervision Committee’ and the ‘Committee for Finance and Budgeting, and for sanctioning contingent expenditure and writing off losses exceeding Rs 5 lakh.’
His leadership roles extended further as he served as the chairman of the Arbitration Committee of the Delhi International Arbitration Centre and the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee. Additionally, he played a crucial role in the permanent committee responsible for the designation of senior advocates at the Delhi High Court.
Notable Judgments and Legal Contributions
Justice Varma has delivered several key judgments during his judicial tenure. One of his significant decisions came in 2018 when he granted bail to Dr. Kafeel Khan, who had been incarcerated for nearly seven months following allegations of medical negligence in a case where 63 children and 18 adults lost their lives due to an oxygen supply failure.
In taxation matters, he was instrumental in rejecting the Congress party’s plea challenging tax reassessment proceedings in March 2024. His ruling emphasized that income tax authorities had gathered substantial and concrete evidence warranting further scrutiny, particularly regarding an alleged Rs 520 crore in income that had escaped assessment.
Another pivotal ruling came in October 2024, where Justice Varma refused to interfere in petitions filed by the Airports Authority of India against arbitral awards granted in disputes with Mumbai International Airport Ltd and Delhi International Airport Ltd. He upheld the principles of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, asserting that judicial intervention under Section 34 should not be used merely to provide an alternative viewpoint.
Legal Interpretations and Landmark Rulings
Justice Varma has significantly contributed to the interpretation of various laws. In 2023, he led a division bench ruling that gold was a ‘prohibited item’ under the Customs Act, of 1962. His judgment highlighted instances of arbitrary actions by customs authorities in assessment, levy of duty, and penalties, emphasizing the need for transparency and adherence to the rule of law.
That same year, he was part of a division bench that upheld a single-judge ruling affirming that Satyajit Ray was the original copyright owner of the 1966 film Nayak. The court ruled against R D Bansal, who sought to prevent Harper Collins from novelizing the film’s script, reinforcing the importance of intellectual property rights in the creative industry.
In another influential decision in 2022, Justice Varma clarified gun ownership laws under the Arms Act, of 1959. He ruled that licensed individuals could not own more than two firearms, even if they were members of rifle clubs or associations. His judgment stressed that allowing unlimited firearm ownership would equate private individuals with arms dealers, a situation the law did not intend to permit.
Recent Developments and Transfer Proposal
Recently, Justice Varma’s tenure at the Delhi High Court has been under scrutiny following an incident where cash was reportedly found at his residence during a fire. Subsequently, the Supreme Court Collegium proposed his transfer back to the Allahabad High Court. While the development has sparked discussions, Justice Varma’s judicial contributions remain notable, particularly in the fields of taxation, arbitration, and constitutional law.
With a judicial career spanning over a decade and several landmark rulings to his credit, Justice Yashwant Varma’s legal interpretations and administrative roles continue to shape the Indian judicial landscape.
With a passion for news writing and a deep interest in Journalism, Bowrna wants to write articles that create an impact. Not only writing, she also has a passion for voiceovers and also aspires to become a Radio Jockey in the future. When not writing, she likes to listen to songs and dance to her heart's content. She is proficient in English, Tamil and Hindi.
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