The dissatisfaction in the fraternity Telangana High Court advocates over transfer of Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar to Punjab and Haryana HC turned into an agitation on Tuesday, with the advocates deciding to abstain from work till Saturday.
Expressing displeasure over the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium to transfer the judge to the Punjab and Haryana HC, the Telangana HC Advocates Association (THCAA) held an extraordinary general body meeting. A resolution opposing the judge’s transfer was passed at the meeting and it observed that the move was unwelcome.
The meeting decided to send a team of delegates to Delhi to meet the Prime Minister, the Union Law Minister, the Chief Justice of India and the Judges of the Supreme Court on the matter. The THCAA also mooted a proposal to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition in the Supreme Court seeking formulation of guidelines on the promotions of Chief Justices of High Courts and the the judges of Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, the Hyderabad City Civil Court Bar Association too decided to convene an extraordinary general body meeting on the matter today (Wednesday). The association said the meeting was being held following the request of the Telangana HC Bar Association. The lawyers are likely to pass a resolution opposing the move to transfer Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar.
Former Advocate General and senior lawyer D. Prakash Reddy, speaking at the meeting, said the proposed transfer of the judge was not correct. THCAA president T. Surya Karan Reddy said the lawyers fraternity had to condemn the recommendation of transfer and strive to get it cancelled.
Lawyer V. Raghunath said the transfer of Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar to the Punjab and Haryana HC, where he was likely to be placed below his seniority, was improper. He contended that the SC Collegium had to review its recommendation and allot the judge to a place without depriving him of his seniority. “If this recommendation materialises, Justice Sanjay Kumar with all his seniority and experience would be placed below among his peers which is disgraceful and demeaning,” Mr. Raghunath said.
Senior lawyer Shesha Rajyam said it was the right time to build up pressure to ensure the recommendation was withdrawn. She observed that since orders were not yet issued, all the lawyers should put up a united fight over the move.
Meanwhile, the agitation against the proposed shifting of Telangana HC from the present premises to Budvel continued. Holding banners and raising slogans, the lawyers took out a rally.