The Supreme Court Collegium’s suggestion to transfer high court judge Justice Nikhil S Kariel to Patna high court drew the ire of the Gujarat High Court Advocates’ Association (GHCAA), who on Thursday decided to take a leave of absence from their jobs indefinitely.
The bar members gathered in Chief Justice Aravind Kumar’s court on Thursday afternoon and objected to the action, calling it “a death knell.” The decision was made by the association at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) called at that time.
The Supreme Court Collegium’s suggestion to transfer high court judge Justice Nikhil S Kariel to Patna high court drew the ire of the Gujarat High Court Advocates’ Association (GHCAA), who on Thursday decided to take a leave of absence from their jobs indefinitely.
The bar members gathered in Chief Justice Aravind Kumar’s court on Thursday afternoon and objected to the action, calling it “a death knell.” The decision was made by the association at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) called at that time.
“To demonstrate unity today at 12 o’clock all members of the Bar in unprecedented numbers assembled in the court of Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court to lament the death of independence of the judiciary and to observe two minutes quiet. The Chief Justice was informed in open court that the whole bar had unanimously voiced distress at the rumours of Justice Kariel’s removal. According to the resolution adopted by GHCAA at the EGM, the Senior Members of the Bar further demanded that the Chief Justice of India and the other Judges of the Collegium be informed of the Bar’s sentiments.
Senior attorney Mihir Thakore said that they were opposed to the planned transfer of Justice Kariel to the Patna High Court and that they wanted to observe a two-minute period of silence when CJ Kumar questioned the attorneys as to why they were there in such large numbers before the Court.
Thakore addressed the courtroom, saying, “We are here to lament the demise of an independent judiciary.
According to the EGM decision, “Justice Kariel is one of the finest, honest, upright and unbiased judges whose integrity and honesty are vouched for by the whole Bar in one voice.”
The GHCAA announced that they would immediately abstain from court proceedings and that they would send a letter requesting that the Chief Justice of India, the other members of the collegium, and the other judges of this court who are currently serving as judges of the Supreme Court of India reconsider their recommendation that Justice Kariel be transferred. Monday morning, the GHCAA will examine their choice.
It was also decided during the EGM to send a delegation of five bar members, together with the president and secretary of the organisation in charge, to meet with the Chief Justice of India and ask him to rethink the move.
