Protesting Against Proposed Transfer Of 4 Karnataka HC Judges, Bengaluru Advocates' Association Resolves To Abstain From Work Today

The communication issued by the bar body to all advocates states, “In protest the general body has decided to abstain from work tomorrow on 23-4-25. A delegation of lawyers comprising of office bearers and senior advocates of the High Court will meet the Hon'ble Chief Justice Of India and Hon'ble Judges of Karnataka in Supreme Court and appraise them of the situation and to request them to reconsider the decision to transfer and to retain the learned Judges proposed for transfer and retain the learned Judges proposed for transfer".

Further, the communication states, a delegation will meet the Union Minister of Law and request the Central Government to keep the "transfers on hold". It is also decided to request the Supreme Court Collegium not to post judges from out of State as there will be local language issues and difficulty for judges to adjust to local laws and swiftly render justice.

It is also decided to make a request to the Government of Karnataka to immediately provide suitable facilities and infrastructure to the Karnataka Land Grabbing court as there are no judgement writers and there is severe paucity of staff and to continue the existing staff.

On April 22, there was a protest held by members of AAB outside the High Court gate. 

Recently the Supreme Collegium has recommended that transfer of seven High Court Judges–four of them from the Karnataka High Court- with a view to "infuse inclusivity and diversity" and "to strengthen the quality of administration of justice."

The Karnataka High Court judges whose transfer has been recommended are:

1. Justice Heman Chandanagoudar from Karnataka HC to Madras HC

2. Justice Krishnan Natarajan from Karnataka HC to Kerala HC 

3. Justice Neranahalli Srinivasan Sanjay Gowda from Karnataka HC to Gujarat HC

4. Justice Dixit Krishna Sripad from Karnataka HC to Orissa HC

As a response to this several bar bodies, collective of young lawyers in the State as well as senior advocates at Karnataka High Court have written to the Chief Justice of India asking him to reconsider the collegium recommendation.