Advocates’ Association of Bengaluru Writes To CJI Asking Reasons Behind Decisions On Justices Tahilramani, Kureshi

The Advocates' Association of Bengaluru has urged Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi asking him to disclose the reasons behind “mysterious” transfers of judges.

They urged him to ensure transparency in the appointment of judges, Chief Justices of high courts, judges of Supreme Courts as well as their transfers.

The Association expressed its concern about the opaqueness of the Supreme Collegium's decision-making process.

It questioned the sudden change of the Supreme Collegium’s mind to appoint Justice Kureshi as the Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court, modifying its earlier decision to elevate him as the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

The Association stated that in the absence of a reasonable explanation behind such a hasty decision, the transfer appeared to be influenced the central government which was biased against Justice Kureshi's appointment as Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

The Association also stated that the decision to transfer Justice Vijaya Kamlesh Tahilramani to the Meghalaya High Court, which led to her resignation, also stank of political interference.

The letter also questioned the transfer of Justice Jayanth Patel of Karnataka High Court, which was similar to Justice Tahilramani's case.

Justice Jayanth Patel had resigned as a judge of the Karnataka High Court in 2017, protesting his non-elevation as the Chief Justice of any High Court, despite his seniority.

The Association also went on to recall the delay in elevation of Justice K M Joseph and Justice S Bopanna to the Supreme Court and the mysterious transfer of Justice D H Waghela.