SC Collegium Changes Recommendations, Recommends Transfer Of Justice Rajesh Bindal To J&K HC & Vineet Kothari To Madras HC

The Supreme Court collegium has acceded to the requests put forth by Punjab and Haryana High Court judge, Justice Rajesh Bindal and Karnataka High Court judge, Justice Vineet Kothari for their transfers.

Justice Bindal has now been recommended to be transferred to Jammu and Kashmir High Court, instead of Madras High Court.

He was initially proposed to be transferred to Madras High Court, through a resolution dated October 29, 2018. Upon being requested to send his response in accordance with the Memorandum of Procedure, he requested to be transferred to any nearby High Court in north India, viz. High Courts of Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh or Rajasthan instead.

Acceding to his request, the collegium now noted that while it cannot reconsider the transfer, it can recommend to transfer him to Jammu and Kashmir High Court instead.

“On reconsideration, the Collegium is of the considered view that it is not possible to accede to his request to reconsider his transfer. However, the Collegium acceding to the alternative request made by the learned Judge, resolves to recommend that in supersession of the afore-mentioned proposal dated 29th October, 2018, Mr. Justice Rajesh Bindal, be transferred to Jammu & Kashmir High Court,” the resolution said.

Justice Bindal did his LL.B from Kurukshetra University in 1985 and enrolled as an advocate in September, 1985. He was elevated as a judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court in March, 2006, and had disposed of more than 78,000 cases till March, 31, 2018.

Justice Kothari has been recommended to be transferred to Madras High Court, instead of Allahabad High Court.

He was initially proposed to be transferred to Allahabad High Court, through a resolution dated October 29, 2018.

Upon being requested to send his response in accordance with the Memorandum of Procedure, he requested to be transferred to the High Courts of Punjab and Haryana, Madras, or Delhi instead.

Acceding to his request, the collegium now resolved to recommend his transfer to Madras High Court instead.

“The Collegium has carefully gone through the aforesaid representation and taken into consideration all relevant factors. On reconsideration, the Collegium, acceding to the request made by the learned Judge, resolves to recommend that in supersession of the afore-mentioned proposal dated 29th October, 2018, Mr. Justice Vineet Kothari, be transferred to Madras High Court,” the resolution stated.

Justice Kothari enrolled as an advocate in September, 1984 with the Bar Council of Rajasthan. He functioned as a judge in Rajasthan High Court for 11 years, before being transferred to Karnataka High Court in April, 2016.