Bar Association Opposes Justice DK Sharma’s Transfer: “Calcutta HC Doesn’t Merit a Judge with a Questionable Image”

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The Calcutta Bar opposed the Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendation to transfer Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma to the Calcutta High Court. On March 27, the Collegium proposed shifting the Delhi High Court judge to Calcutta, sparking resistance from the legal fraternity.

Kolkata: The bar associations at the Calcutta High Court have appealed to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna to reconsider and withdraw the recent Collegium decision to transfer Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma from the Delhi High Court to Calcutta High Court.

In a joint representation from the Incorporated Law Society of Calcutta, Bar Library Club, and High Court Bar Association, the associations expressed their concerns about the transfer, stating that the “Calcutta High Court does not merit a judge with a questionable image or a brief tenure.“

Also Read: BREAKING | Judge Caught With Crores | “WE ARE NOT THRASH BIN”: HCBA After Justice Yashwant Verma’s Controversial Transfer

The representation stated,

“While we are conscious of regular transfers in usual course of administration of justice, we have reasons to believe that this transfer does not fall in that category. We also have reasons to believe that this transfer is due to certain allegations that came to light touching the propriety and manner of functioning of the Learned Judge,”

The associations claimed that complaints against Justice Sharma have been pending since October 2024.

Also Read: Collegium Recommends Justice Yashwant Varma’s Transfer to Allahabad HC After Two Meetings: “Recommended Repatriation”

They also pointed out past instances where the Calcutta High Court was allegedly treated as a “dumping ground” for judges approaching retirement.

The bar bodies asserted,

“Such short tenures prior to retirement does not and cannot have any significant impact in the discharge of judicial functions and did not ‘better’ the administration of justice. Their performance record on the High Court may be called for from the High Court administration which will support our contention,”

Consequently, the bar associations have requested the CJI to consider transferring back to Calcutta High Court some of its judges currently serving in other High Courts.

Also Read: Allahabad HC Bar Associations on Justice Yashwant Varma’s Transfer: “Collegium Headed by CJI Khanna Listened Attentively, Will Consider Requests”

Justice Sharma began his career in the Delhi Judicial Service in 1992 and was elevated to the Higher Judicial Service in 2003.

Throughout his tenure, he held significant roles, including Registrar General of the Delhi High Court and Principal District & Sessions Judge in New Delhi.

He was sworn in as a judge of the Delhi High Court on February 28, 2022.

The Calcutta High Court, which has an authorized strength of 72 judges, is currently operating with only 44 judges, resulting in a vacancy of 28 positions.

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