SC divided over MP HC judge’s transfer

The government has decided to cancel the current disinvestment process of state-run Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) because of a single bidder situation and the Union finance ministry will reinitiate the bidding process again at a later date, a top functionary said. The department of investment and public asset management (Dipam) confirmed the decision, citing the decision by several of companies that had wanted to pull out due to the economic uncertainty created by successive Covid-19 waves and geopolitical tensions. “In view of this… Government of India has decided to call off the present EOI (expression of interest) process for strategic disinvestment of BPCL and the Eois received from QIPS (qualified interested parties) shall stand cancelled,” the statement said.

The proposed transfer of a judge from the high court of Madhya Pradesh to the Delhi high court has left the Supreme Court justices divided, and brought into question the collegium’s transfer policy. People aware of the matter said a proposal to transfer justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav from Madhya Pradesh to the national capital is facing opposition in the top court, particularly from judges whose parent HC was Delhi. The proposal, sent to the government for approval, includes objections by three consultee SC judges in the form of a letter. It contends that allowing indiscriminate transfers of judges to Delhi could hamper promotional avenues for judicial officers presently posted in Delhi, and throttle opportunities for lawyers practising before Delhi courts to be appointed as judges to the Delhi HC.