Why is the Chief Justice of Madras High Court Resigning?

Madras High Court Chief Justice V K Tahilramani is all set to resign after she was transferred to Meghalaya High Court. It is unlikely that a judge from a bigger High Court is transferred to a smaller High Court. At the dinner with her colleagues, she announced her decision to quit.

The Decision to transfer her was taken by the collegium after the feedback from the Madras High Court. The Collegium, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, had recommended her transfer to the Meghalaya High Court on August 28. The Collegium has already transferred Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, Justice AK Mittal, to the Madras High Court.

Justice A K Mittal who is currently the Chief Justice of Meghalaya is all set to take over as the Chief Justice of Madras High Court. He is junior to Justice Tahilramani by three years of service. Justice Tahilramani, who became a judge of Bombay High Court in June 2001, was appointed as the Chief Justice of Madras High Court in August 2018.

The collegium has carefully gone through the aforesaid representation and taken into consideration all relevant factors. On reconsideration, the collegium is of the considered view that it is not possible to accede to her request,” said the resolution dated September 3, which was uploaded on the Supreme Court’s website.

“The collegium, accordingly, reiterates its recommendation dated August 28, 2019 for transfer of Justice V K Tahilramani to Meghalaya High Court,” it said.

A group of lawyers has sent representation to the Collegium against the arbitrary decision of the collegium to transfer the judges.