The Gujarat High Court Advocates’ Association (GHCAA) has officially called for the transfer of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal, citing a series of conflicts and controversies that have recently marred the functioning of the court. The resolution for her transfer was adopted in a unanimous decision during a general body meeting of the GHCAA held on Monday.
The demand for Chief Justice Agarwal’s transfer arises in the backdrop of significant unrest within the High Court community, particularly after a contentious decision made by Chief Justice Agarwal last week to alter the judicial roster. This change notably affected a judge who had previously raised concerns regarding the conduct of a judicial officer in the court’s registry.
Senior Counsel Asim Pandya was among the first to voice concerns, urging the GHCAA to address what he described as abrupt and questionable changes to the judicial assignments. The matter escalated when GHCAA President Brijesh Trivedi openly criticized Chief Justice Agarwal during a court session. Trivedi accused the Chief Justice of curtailing the arguments of senior lawyers and creating a restrictive atmosphere in the courtroom.
While an interim resolution appeared to have been reached, the recent roster modifications rekindled frustrations, leading to the GHCAA’s decision to intervene by passing the resolution for Chief Justice Agarwal’s transfer. The association expressed its concerns about maintaining judicial propriety and the overall integrity of the court’s operations.
