In a significant reshuffle in the higher judiciary, the Central government on Monday notified the transfer of 17 High Court judges across various states, following recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium on May 26. The transfers aim to strengthen judicial administration and address regional requirements.
Here’s a summary of the key transfers:
- Justice Anil Kshetarpal moves from the Punjab and Haryana High Court to the Delhi High Court. A Senior Advocate since 2014, he was elevated as Additional Judge in July 2017, having built his legal career in civil and constitutional matters.
- Justice Suman Shyam shifts from the Gauhati High Court to the Bombay High Court. Enrolled in 1996, Justice Shyam’s expertise spans civil, constitutional, arbitration, and service law. He was elevated in 2015 and made permanent in 2017.
- Justice Sudhir Singh returns to his parent Patna High Court from Punjab and Haryana High Court. An advocate since 1991, he served as Assistant Solicitor General at Patna High Court before his elevation in 2015.
- Justice Sujoy Paul moves from Telangana High Court to Calcutta High Court. Elevated in Madhya Pradesh in 2011, Justice Paul was shifted to Telangana in 2024 on personal request and now proceeds to Calcutta.
- Justice V Kameswar Rao returns to Delhi High Court from Karnataka High Court after serving over a year in Karnataka, where he had moved on personal request. He was first elevated in Delhi in 2013.
- Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma goes back to his parent Rajasthan High Court from Punjab and Haryana High Court, after earlier stints in Patna due to medical reasons.
- Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh moves from Kerala High Court to Karnataka High Court. His previous transfer from his parent court had sparked reactions from the Awadh Bar Association, which declined to felicitate him over concerns regarding his conduct.
- Justice Vivek Kumar Singh shifts from Madras High Court to Madhya Pradesh High Court. Enrolled in 1987, he was elevated in 2017 and had earlier served at Allahabad High Court.
- Justice Vivek Chaudhary moves from Allahabad High Court to Delhi High Court. Practicing since 1988, he has extensive experience in civil and constitutional matters.
- Justice Battu Devanand returns to Andhra Pradesh High Court from Madras High Court, where he had been since April 2023. Elevated in 2020, he has deep roots in Andhra Pradesh legal practice.
- Justice Om Prakash Shukla is transferred from Allahabad High Court to Delhi High Court. Practicing since 2003, he became a permanent judge in March 2024.
- Justice Arun Monga moves from Rajasthan High Court to Delhi High Court. Originally elevated in Punjab & Haryana High Court in 2018, he shifted to Rajasthan in November 2023.
- Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra is transferred from Allahabad High Court to Punjab and Haryana High Court. A Senior Advocate since 2013, he was elevated in 2014.
- Justice Jayant Banerji moves from Allahabad High Court to Karnataka High Court. He was elevated as judge in 2017 after nearly three decades of civil practice.
- Justice Shree Chandrashekhar shifts from Rajasthan High Court to Bombay High Court. With over 3,500 cases argued and 140 Supreme Court judgments, he brings vast experience, having served earlier as acting Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court.
- Justice Lanusungkum Jamir moves from Gauhati High Court to Calcutta High Court. Elevated in 2013, he has served in Manipur and Gauhati High Courts.
This massive round of transfers reflects the judiciary’s efforts to ensure balanced deployment of judicial resources across High Courts and improve the administration of justice nationwide. The formal notifications were issued under Article 222(1) of the Constitution after consultations with the Chief Justice of India.
