Supreme Court Collegium Recommends Transfer Of Four Allahabad High Court Judges

The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting held on 3 August 2023, has recommended the transfer of 4 Allahabad High Court judges.

The Collegium, consisting of Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice B R Gavai and Justice Surya Kant, has recommended the names of the following 4 judges of the Allahabad High Court

* Justice Vivek Kumar Singh - (Proposed to be transferred to Madras High Court)

* Justice Prakash Padia - (Proposed to be transferred to Jharkhand High Court)

The Collegium consulted the Judges of the Supreme Court who are conversant with the affairs of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad. The Collegium also consulted the Chief Justices of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad and the High Court of Jharkhand.

By a representation dated 8 August 2023, Justice Padia requested a reconsideration of the proposal for his transfer.

In the alternative, he has sought transfer to the High Court of Madhya Pradesh, the High Court of Judicature at Patna or the High Court of Uttarakhand.

However, having considered the requests made by Justice Prakash Padia, the Collegium did not find any merit in the requests made by him and hence, the proposal has been made to transfer him to Jharkhand HC.

* Justice S P Kesarwani - (Proposed to be transferred to Calcutta High Court)

While making this recommendation, the Collegium consulted Judges of the Supreme Court who, being conversant with the affairs of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, were in a position to offer views on the proposed transfer.

The Court also consulted the Chief Justices of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad and the High Court at Calcutta.

Justice Kesarwani, by a representation dated 6 August 2023, requested reconsideration of the proposal for his transfer to the High Court at Calcutta. We have considered the request made by Mr Justice S P Kesarwani in his representation, however, the Collegium did not find any merit in the request made by him and hence, it has proposed his transfer.

* Justice Rajendra Kumar-IV - (Proposed to be transferred to Madhya Pradesh High Court)

While proposing the name of Justice Rajendra, the Collegium consulted Judges of the Supreme Court who, being conversant with the affairs of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, were in a position to offer views on the proposed transfer.

The Court also consulted the Chief Justices of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad and the High Court of Madhya Pradesh.

By a representation dated 8 August 2023, Mr Justice Rajendra KumarIV conveyed his consent to the proposed transfer, he, however, also requested that his transfer be stayed for 6 months, however, the Collegium did not find any merit in his request and hence, it has proposed his transfer. 

As per Collegium's statement, all the transfers have been recommended for "better administration of justice".

Click Here To Read/Download Collegium's Statement