Published 19:56 IST, September 10th 2019
TN: Lawyers & Advocates protest against Madras HC CJ Vijaya's transfer
Advocates and members of the bar council have continued protests against the transfer of CJ Tahilramani; on Tuesday, the members of the bar boycotted HC
On Tuesday advocates from Tamil Nadu boycotted attending court hearings and proceedings. The Madras Bar Council members and Madras High Court Advocates demanded that the collegium headed by Cheif Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi, revoke the transfer order of Madras High Court's Chief Justice, VK Tahilramani.
Madras High court Chief Justice Vijaya K Tahilramani's resigned after the collegium turned down her request to cancel her transfer order to the Meghalaya High Court. The Madras High Court Advocates Association and the bar council members have boycotted the courts and have been protesting in front the Madras High court gate to show their support to the CJ Tahilramani.
The Supreme Court collegium which comprises the CJI, transferred Chief justice Tahilramani to Meghalaya high court and appointed Meghalaya High court's Chief Justice AK Mittal as Madras High Court's Chief Justice. Following her transfer order, Justice Tahilramani requested the collegium to turn down the order and cancel her transfer, which was refused by the collegium. This resulted in the resignation of Chief Justice Tahilramani last Saturday.
Advocates Association of Chennai irked over refusal to revoke CJ Tahilramani's transefer
Justice Tahilramani has not returned to Madras High Court after sending her resignation to the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, and the Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi. The refusal to revoke CJ Tahilramani's transfer irked the Advocates Association in Chennai, which lead to the protests and boycotts. According to the Bar Council members, there is no necessity for the collegium to transfer the CJ as she is discharging her duties in an extraordinary manner for last one year.
"There is no grievances against her by anyone and why should she be transferred in just one year without any reason" asks Velmurugan, bar council member.
CJ Tahilramani was transferred from Madras HC to Meghalaya HC
The transfer of CJs is a regular proceeding by the collegium. The bar council members claim that the manner in which its done is not transparent, and, there was no need to transfer her from a court like the Madras High Court to the Meghalaya High Court. She has been on top of the Chief Justice list seniority wise.
Around 50 thousand advocates starting from the Madras High Court to all the lower courts boycotted the court proceedings today as a mark of protest.
However, reports suggests that the CJ Tahilramani does not want to comment on her resignation or about the ongoing controversy. To take this forward, all the advocates associations in the state have decided to send a memorandum to the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, and the Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi.
Updated 23:45 IST, September 11th 2019