Delhi High Court judge who criticized Delhi Police over violence transferred
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court judge Justice S Muralidhar was seen grilling the Centre, the state government and the Delhi Police over the violence in the northeast region of the national capital. And now, the reports have come that he has been transferred to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Official sources call it a routine transfer recommended by a Supreme Court panel two weeks ago.
The transfer notice of the Delhi High Court's third highest judge was issued around 11pm on Wednesday night by the central government, about two weeks after it was recommended by the Supreme Court collegium on February 12.
The transfer notification did not mention any time frame on his new joining date, which was seen to infer that he should do so immediately.
In such transfer cases, the judge is normally provided with 14-day time to relocate and join the new post.
"In exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 222 of the Constitution of India, the President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to transfer Shri Justice S Muralidhar, Judge of the Delhi High Court, as a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and to direct him to assume charge of his office in the Punjab and Haryana High Court," the government notification read.
On Wednesday, Justice Muralidhar had said, "We cannot let another 1984-like event happen in this country" and asked the government - at the centre and in Delhi - to work together to combat unrelenting violence that hit parts of the national capital for a fourth consecutive day.
Among those who criticized Justice Muralidhar's transfer were Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
"The midnight transfer of Justice Muralidhar isn't shocking given the current dispensation, but it is certainly sad and shameful. Millions of Indians have faith in a resilient and upright judiciary, the government's attempts to muzzle justice & break their faith are deplorable," tweeted Priyanka Gandhi.
