Andhra Pradesh Advocates' JAC Meets Union Law Minister Opposing Proposed Transfer Of 2 High Court Judges

A delegation of Andhra Pradesh Advocates' Joint Action Committee (JAC) met Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday requesting him to refer their request to the SC Collegium for a review of its recommendation to transfer Justices B. Devanand and D. Ramesh.

The Committee also submitted a memorandum opposing the recommendation made by SC Collegium (in its meeting dated November 24) to transfer AP High Court's Judges, Justice Battu Devanand (to Madras High Court) and Justice D. Ramesh (to Allahabad High Court).

Earlier, the Committee had sent a representation to the Chief Justice Of India DY Chandrachud requesting him to review the recommendation.

In its memorandum submitted to the Union Law Minister, the committee has expressed its displeasure over the SC Collegium recommendation calling the same arbitrary in nature and tarnishing the faith in the independence of the Judiciary.

"We further express our deepest anguish over the proposed transfer of the Hon'ble judges from the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, as we suspect that the proposed action may not stand at the touchstone of key principles of fairness and reasonableness thereby causing us to have suspicion and displeasure over the collegium for the said proposal of transfer of the Hon'ble judges whilst no reason may seem to appear to be just, fair and reasonable," the memorandum reads.

The Committee has further stated that both the judges instill confidence in the bar to fight for upholding Constitutional values and are one of the reasons that the people of the state repose faith in the judiciary. It adds that the Judges have always been in the first row to question the violation of fundamental rights and other statutory violations.

Significantly, the Memorandum has also stated that the collegium might have recommended the transfer of both Judges by drawing the consideration of the government as both of them are well known for their style of delivering Justice to the People only on merits even without seeing the face of Litigant.

"Moreover, there are many number of contempt cases filed against the government, wherein for the contumacious action by the contemnors, being the government officials, the Hon'ble Justices' has upheld the justice by duly putting the Government officials in contempt for their wilful, wanton and deliberate disobedience of the orders of Hon'ble High Court in certain cases, nevertheless their independent and fearless actions now has rendered their proposed transfer for which action we express our sincere displeasure."

Lastly, submitting that in-justice is happening to the Judicial Independence in the light of the proposed transfers and it might pose a threat to other Judges who are holding the Benches at the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, the committee has appealed to the Union Law Minister to refer its request to the Supreme Court so that the recommendations could be reviewed.

JAC Representatives who met the Law Minister on Tuesday are: Advocates Sravan Kumar, K M Krishna Reddy, Nagaraju, Srinivasa Rao, and Subba Rao.