Nirmal Yadav gets a clean chit

The 15-month-old 'cash-at-door' scam allegedly involving a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has come to an end with the Supreme Court Collegium understood to have accepted a Law Ministry report absolving the judge.

The 15-month-old 'cash-at-door' scam allegedly involving a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has come to an end with the Supreme Court Collegium understood to have accepted a Law Ministry report absolving the judge.

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There is speculation that she may be transferred to the Uttarakhand High Court.

It was alleged that Rs 15 lakh in cash delivered at the residence of Justice Nirmaljit Kaur in Chandigarh in August last year was meant for Justice Nirmal Yadav but was delivered at the wrong address due to similarity of names.

Justice Yadav was kept off judicial duties after her name cropped up in the case.

"We have forwarded the report of (then) Attorney General Milon Banerjee to the Collegium," sources in the Law Ministry said.

According to the report of the AG, there was not enough evidence against Justice Yadav.

The Attorney General was asked to submit a report to the Law Ministry after difference of opinion had cropped up between the Director, CBI and Director, Prosecution on whether there were sufficient grounds to prosecute the judge.

Punjab Governor S F Rodrigues, who is also Chandigarh Administrator General, had recommended a CBI probe into the scam after consultations with High Court Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur.

Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan appointed a three-judge committee to look into the matter.

After considering the views of the AG, the Collegium is understood to have decided against prosecuting her.