Centre Withholds Approval For Orissa High Court Chief Justice S Muralidhar’s Transfer

New Delhi: The Centre has split the Supreme Court Collegium recommendations by notifying Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh (J&K&L) Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal’s transfer to Rajasthan High Court while withholding the one related to the appointment of Justice S Muralidhar as Chief Justice of Madras High Court.

While approving three recommendations of the Supreme Court Collegium for the appointment of Chief Justices at the high courts of Karnataka, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre remained mute on Chief Justice of Orissa High Court Justice S Muralidhar’s transfer.

On September 28, the SC Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India U U Lalit recommended transfer of Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice S Muralidhar from J&K High Court and Orissa High Court as Chief Justices of Rajasthan and Madras High Courts respectively.

Also Read: SC Collegium Recommends Odisha CJ Justice Muralidhar’s Transfer To Madras HC

The Madras High Court Chief Justice post had fallen vacant following the retirement of Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari on September 12. Karnataka and Rajasthan CJI posts are also lying vacant.

However, on October 11, the Department only notified the transfer of Justice Mithal while also approving the recommendations of the Collegium to appoint Justice PB Varale as the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey as the CJ of J&K&L High Court.

Notably, another Collegium on September 30 had recommended the elevation of Justice Jaswant Singh as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court.

Justice S Muralidhar was sworn in as Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court on January 4, 2021.