APPOINTMENTS/ TRANSFERS NOTIFIED BY CENTRE

DELHI HIGH COURT/ PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT

One of the most controversial decisions taken by the central government last week was to notify the transfer of justice S Muralidhar from Delhi high court (HC) to Punjab & Haryana HC. The Supreme Court (SC) collegium had recommended his transfer on February 12; the central government chose to notify the transfer on February 26, the day justice Muralidhar had taken the Centre and Delhi Police to task for its failure to control riots in the national capital.

BOMBAY HIGH COURT

Justice BP Dharmadhikari was appointed as the acting chief justice of Bombay HC on February 24 after chief justice Pradeep Nandrajog retired on February 23. Another judge, Justice SC Dharmadhikari, who was the seniormost judge behind chief justice Nandrajog, had resigned on February 15 citing personal reasons. His resignation paved the way for justice BP Dharmadhikari to take over as the acting chief justice. The Bombay HC also got a new judge when the government, on February 27, notified the appointment of advocate, Abhay Ahuja, as an additional judge . Ahuja’s name was recommended by the SC collegium on January 22.

MEGHALAYA HIGH COURT

Justice Ranjit More was transferred from Bombay HC to Meghalaya HC. His transfer was notified on February 26 following a recommendation made by the SC collegium on February 12.

GUJARAT HIGH COURT

The central government, on February 28, notified the appointment of four judicial officers as judges of Gujarat HC. The four new judges are Ilesh Jashvantrai Vora, Gita Gopi, Ashokkumar C Joshi, and Rajendra M Sareen. The appointments were made a little over two weeks after the SC collegium had recommended their names for elevation on February 12.

KARNATAKA HIGH COURT/ UTTARAKHAND HIGH COURT

The Centre on February 26 notified the transfer of justice Ravi Vijaykumar Malimath from Karnataka to Uttarakhand HC.