A transfer of a High Court Judge has to be for very strong reasons that are well-documented and can be verified, because such a move impinges upon the public’s confidence in the rule of law. The decision-making authority needs to demonstrate how the interests of justice will be better-served by such a move. Some reports in the press suggest that the punctuality of Justice V.K. Tahilramani was an issue. This is unconvincing; even if true, a transfer for such a flimsy reason appears disproportionate. If there is something else that bothered the collegium, it should have been stated. It is unfortunate that the apex court, which demands transparency in all actions of the government and public administration, chose to remain opaque.
R.V. Easwar,
New Delhi
