Month after shift to Delhi HC, Justice Arun Monga may return to Rajasthan High Court

Another transfer recommended from the Delhi High Court is that of Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju to the Karnataka High Court.

Three others have been recommended for transfer to the Delhi HC — Justices Dinesh Mehta and Avneesh Jhinghan from Rajasthan HC, and Justice Chandrasekharan Sudha from Kerala HC.

If the Collegium’s recommendations are confirmed, the strength of judges in the Delhi HC will increase to 45 from the present 44, of the 60 sanctioned posts of judges.

Notably, in August 2023, the SC Collegium, headed by then Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and comprising among its members now CJI Gavai, had recommended Justice Jhingan’s transfer from the Punjab and Haryana HC to the Gujarat HC.

The proposal was kept pending by the government. Subsequently, in October 2023, the SC Collegium recommended his transfer to the Rajasthan HC.

Justice Monga’s parent high court is Punjab and Haryana. He took oath in the Delhi HC on July 21.

He started his law practice in 1991 and shifted his primary seat of practice to Delhi in 1997-98. He practiced in Delhi for 20 years, till he was sworn in as a judge at the Punjab and Haryana HC in October 2018.

Justice Ganju enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1995 and was appointed as a permanent judge in the Delhi HC in May 2022. Before being elevated to the Bench, she primarily practiced before the Delhi HC.

Justice Monga currently deals with criminal matters, including bail and appeals, while Justice Ganju deals with civil writ petitions at the Delhi HC.

Other transfers

The SC Collegium has also recommended the transfer of three judges from the Allahabad HC and only one transfer to it — reducing its strength to 82 judges from the present 84 judges, of the total 160 sanctioned posts.

In the case of two other transfers, the Collegium has recommended repatriation to parent high courts — Justice Manavendranath Roy from Gujarat HC to Andhra Pradesh HC and Justice Donadi Ramesh from Allahabad HC to Andhra Pradesh HC.

The Collegium has also recommended the transfer of Justice Sandeep Bhatt from Gujarat HC to Madhya Pradesh HC, even as members of the Gujarat HC Bar on Tuesday afternoon “unanimously” decided to abstain from work with immediate effect in protest against the proposed transfer.

While Wednesday is a court holiday on account of Ganesh Chaturthi, practising advocates of the HC said lawyers are likely to abstain from court proceedings on Thursday as well.

The Gujarat High Court Advocates Association on Tuesday also decided to make a representation before the top court to revoke the proposed transfer of Justice Bhatt.

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