THE CENTRE NOTIFIES THE TRANSFER OF CHIEF JUSTICE SANJIB BANERJEE OF THE MADRAS HC TO MEGHALAYA HC

The Central government released a notification on the Ministry of Law and Justice website stating the transfer of Chief Justice Sajib Banerjee of the Madras High Court to Meghalaya High Court.

The Supreme Court Collegium held a meeting on September 16, whereby the transfer of Justice Banerjee to Meghalaya was recommended. 

Justice Banerjee's transfer had raised controversy with various allegations such as - he is being sent to a High Court of lesser prominence because of his stance against various ruling administrations. The sudden transfer of Justice Banerjee led the advocates of the Madras HC to stage a silent protest outside the court. Before that, around 237 lawyers practicing before the Madras HC wrote a letter to the five Supreme Court Collegium, expressing their protest against its recommendation to transfer Madras HC Chief Justice Banerjee to the Meghalaya High Court. The Bar Association of Madras had also passed a resolution requesting the collegium to reconsider its decision. "The transfer seems to be punitive, and the Madras association is concerned with the opaqueness regarding the transfers."

He was enrolled as an advocate in the year 1990 and practiced before Calcutta HC. In 2006, he was appointed as a judge of the Calcutta High Court. In January 2021, he was appointed Chief Justice of Madras High Court and is due to retire on November 1, 2023.

Author: Papiha Ghoshal