Union Government Notifies Transfer & Repatriation of 18 High Court Judges

To maintain the balance, efficiency, and impartiality of the judiciary in India, the Union Government on July 14, 2025, issued official orders transferring and repatriating 18 High Court judges across various states. This development follows recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium on May 26, 2025. These strategic appointments aim to enhance judicial functioning, promote uniformity in case disposal, and address regional imbalances in judicial staffing.

Background

The transfer and repatriation of High Court judges in India are governed by Article 222 of the Constitution, which empowers the President to transfer a judge from one High Court to another after consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI). The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by the CJI, plays a crucial role in suggesting such movements. The current transfer notifications are part of this long-standing administrative mechanism and reflect an effort to uphold the independence and integrity of the judiciary by rotating judges across states.

Significance of the Transfers

These judicial reshuffles are not merely administrative—they serve multiple significant purposes,

• Impartiality: By relocating judges to states other than their parent High Courts, potential local pressures and regional biases are minimized.
• Efficiency: High Courts with a heavier caseload can benefit from additional or experienced judges from other jurisdictions.
• Expertise Sharing: Transferred judges bring their diverse legal experience and judicial perspectives to the host High Court, enriching its jurisprudence.
• National Integration: These transfers foster a pan-Indian judicial culture, ensuring that judges are familiar with diverse legal interpretations across the country.

List of Transfers

1. Justice Tadakamalla Vinod Kumar transferred from Telangana HC to Madras HC.
2. Justice Jayant Banerji moved from Allahabad HC to Karnataka HC.
3. Justice Arun Monga (Punjab & Haryana cadre) transferred from Rajasthan HC to Delhi HC.
4. Justice Anil Kshetarpal shifted from Punjab & Haryana HC to Delhi HC.
5. Justice Sudhir Singh (Patna cadre) transferred from Punjab & Haryana HC to Patna HC.
6. Justice Shree Chandrashekhar (Jharkhand cadre) moved from Rajasthan HC to Bombay HC.
7. Justice Om Prakash Shukla transferred from Allahabad HC to Delhi HC.
8. Justice Battu Devanand (Andhra Pradesh cadre) repatriated from Madras HC to Andhra Pradesh HC.
9. Justice Vivek Kumar Singh (Allahabad cadre) moved from Madras HC to Madhya Pradesh HC.
10. Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh (Allahabad cadre) transferred from Kerala HC to Karnataka HC.
11. Justice Vivek Chaudhary moved from Allahabad HC to Delhi HC.
12. Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma (Rajasthan cadre) returned from Punjab & Haryana HC to Rajasthan HC.
13. Justice Suman Shyam transferred from Gauhati HC to Bombay HC.
14. Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra moved from Allahabad HC to Punjab & Haryana HC.
15. Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre transferred from Bombay HC to Delhi HC.
16. Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak moved from Gauhati HC to Orissa HC.
17. Justice Lanusungkum Jamir transferred from Gauhati HC to Calcutta HC.
18. Justice V Kameswar Rao (Delhi cadre) transferred from Karnataka HC to Delhi HC.

Objectives of the Transfers

The core objectives behind these transfers include,

• Promoting national judicial coherence
• Decongesting overburdened courts
• Ensuring transparency and integrity through regular reshuffling
• Balancing judge strength across High Courts
• Facilitating fair trial environments free from local interference

These actions support the larger goal of judicial reform and strengthen public trust in the judiciary.