Justice Shakdher Reflects on Controversial 2016 Transfer: 'No Consent Given'

Justice Rajiv Shakdher, the outgoing second most senior judge of the Delhi High Court, who openly shared his dissatisfaction with a past transfer to the Madras High Court in 2016. Speaking at a farewell event as he prepares to become the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court,

Justice Shakdher revealed that his transfer to the Madras High Court was done without his consent, expressing that he was "deeply unhappy" at the time.

This transfer had attracted significant controversy, with prominent legal figures like Fali Nariman, Soli Sorabjee, and K K Venugopal criticizing it as a punitive move, given Justice Shakdher's reputation for independent judgments.

Despite this, he later acknowledged the positive experiences he had during his tenure in Madras.

The transfer issue also highlighted a broader concern over the judicial transfer process managed by the Supreme Court Collegium, the body responsible for such decisions. His remarks reflect a rare instance of a judge publicly expressing dissatisfaction with the Collegium's decision.

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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/outgoing-delhi-high-court-judge-rajiv-shakdher-on-past-transfer-no-consent-9586400/