The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) has raised concerns with CJI BR Gavai and the Supreme Court Collegium over frequent transfers of judges. It urged greater transparency and consultation in judicial appointments and transfers.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) has raised serious concerns about the recent series of transfers of judges from the Delhi High Court to other states and also transfers of judges from other jurisdictions into Delhi.
In a letter dated September 1, addressed to Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and the Supreme Court Collegium, the DHCBA said that such transfers have created uneasiness not only among lawyers practicing in the Delhi High Court but also within the institution itself.
The association said there is a need for more openness and consultation in the process of appointment and transfer of judges.
The DHCBA wrote,
“The transfers of several judges from this court to other jurisdictions have generated unease, not only within the institution but also amongst the members of the bar. Judges who have risen through the ranks of the Bar, carry with them an invaluable understanding of the pulse of the city and its courts, and the recent transfers underscore how essential judicial continuity is, and how deeply the Bar values judges who have journeyed alongside it over the decades.”
The letter also pointed out that many members of the Bar now feel they are being ignored when it comes to elevation to the bench of the Delhi High Court.
The DHCBA observed,
“The recent spate of transfers has further exacerbated the situation where there is a widening gap between the Judges who adorn our bench and the lived experience of litigants in the local context of our city.”
The association further underlined that nearly one-third of the judges currently serving in the Delhi High Court are from other states. It warned that such a situation can harm both the morale of lawyers and public confidence in the judicial process.
The letter said,
“We humbly submit that such perceptions, if left unaddressed, risk eroding the morale of the Bar as well as diminishing faith in the established processes of judicial elevation and transfer. The Delhi High Court, as the custodian of justice in the Capital, requires stability, continuity, and the confidence of both the Bench and the Bar to discharge its duties effectively.”
This letter from the DHCBA comes right after the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the transfer of two Delhi High Court judges.
Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju has been recommended for transfer to the Calcutta High Court, while Justice Arun Monga has been recommended for transfer to the Rajasthan High Court.
What makes the situation even more sensitive is that Justice Arun Monga’s transfer was ordered only a month after he took charge as a judge of the Delhi High Court.
In fact, in July 2025, Justice Monga, along with five other judges from different High Courts in India, had taken oath as judges of the Delhi High Court.
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By writing to the Chief Justice of India and the Supreme Court Collegium, the DHCBA has sought to highlight that the Delhi High Court, being the guardian of justice in the national capital, needs judicial stability and judges who understand the city’s legal ecosystem.
The association has stressed that repeated transfers without adequate consultation and explanation can negatively impact both the institution and the lawyers who practice before it.
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