The Karnataka State Bar Council (KSBC) on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court Collegium to reconsider its recommendation to transfer four Karnataka High Court judges..In a letter sent to the Chief Justice of India (CJI), the Council said that the sudden transfer of four experienced judges has raised serious questions over judicial independence, transparency and institutional stability.It added that such abrupt transfers can demoralise the judiciary and affect the trust in the judicial system.“Once again, we the Members of the Karnataka State Bar Council representing the entire Legal Fraternity of State of Karnataka request your good self to reconsider the issue of transfer of four Hon'ble Judges of High Court of Karnataka to other High Courts. Hope that the Hon'ble Collegium Judges will reconsider and withdraw its order in transferring the 4 Hon'ble Judges of the High Court of Karnataka,” the Council said.It also opined that removing multiple experienced judges could also hamper the Court's efficiency and functioning. "Moreover, the Karnataka High Court is one of the busier Courts in the country, and removing multiple experienced judges at once could hamper the Court's efficiency and delay justice. Transfers, if necessary, should be gradual, well-justified, and based on transparent principles rather than arbitrary decisions. I At a time when judicial pendency is a major concern, such sudden reshuffling risks further burdening an already strained system and eroding the public trust in the sanctity of judicial appointments," the letter said. .The Supreme Court Collegium on April 21 recommended the transfer of Justices Krishna Dixit, K Natarajan, Hemant Chandangoudar and Sanjay Gowda.Justice Dixit has been recommended for transfer to the Orissa High Court, Justice Natarajan to the Kerala High Court, Justice Chandangoudar to the Madras High Court and Justice Gowda to the Gujarat High Court.As per the statement published by the Collegium on the Supreme Court website, the decision was taken "to infuse inclusivity and diversity at the level of High Courts and to strengthen the quality of administration of justice".The transfer recommendation has caused consternation among the legal fraternity in Karnataka.The Advocates' Association, Bengaluru (AAB) abstained from work on April 23 to protest the transfer recommendation..[Read Letter]
