With Justice Sandeep N. Bhatt of Gujarat High Court being finally transferred to Madhya Pradesh High Court, the issue of his transfer has once again become a topic of discussion in the legal fraternity. In the end of 2023, he had ordered installation of closed-circuit televisions in every corners of the registry.
The grapevine is that Justice Bhatt has been transferred for going against the system. His move to order installation of the CCTVs had raised several questions against the system of the High Court.
In August, the Supreme Court had recommended the transfer of Justice Bhatt to the Madhya Pradesh High Court and Justice C. Manvendranath Roy to the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The Central Government has now issued an official notification regarding the transfer of these two judges.
High Court lawyers had also gone on a five-day strike demanding the cancellation of his transfer. A delegation of the special committee of the Gujarat High Court Advocates Association also met the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, B. R. Gavai, and made a strong representation. However, it did not yield results. Now, two months later, the transfer of Justice Sandeep N. Bhatt and Justice C. M. Roy has come into effect.
While ordering installation of CCTVs in 2023, Justice Bhatt had criticized the Registrar (IT) and the concerned officials. He had said that the delay and obstruction in the implementation of the order is red tapism of sorts.
Justice Bhatt’s aim was to make the functioning of the High Court transparent and if any irregularities occur, the CCTV footages can provide evidence of it. Justice Bhatt’s order was challenged before the bench through the LPA by the Registrar General of the High Court. During the hearing, the bench had quashed Justice Bhatt’s order in the first hearing itself.
Also Read: Gujarat High Court To Fill Over 1,300 Vacancies; Know Last Date To Apply https://www.vibesofindia.com/gujarat-high-court-to-fill-over-1300-vacancies-know-last-date-to-apply/
