Hours after the transfer of Delhi High Court Justice Muralidhar to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday said that the transfer was done pursuant to recommendation dated February 12, 2020, of the Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice of India.
He also claimed that a well-settled process has been followed in transferring the judge and his consent is taken in doing so.
Transfer of Hon’ble Justice Muralidhar was done pursuant to the recommendation dated 12.02.2020 of the Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice of India. While transferring the judge consent of the judge is taken. The well settled process have been followed.
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) February 27, 2020
Justice Muralidhar was transferred on Wednesday night, hours after he pulled up the Delhi Police for its inaction in filing FIRs against BJP leaders who made hate speeches and expressed “anguish” over the communal violence in northeast Delhi.
Hitting out at the Congress for politicising the issue, Prasad said: “By politicizing a routine transfer, Congress has yet again displayed its scant regard for the judiciary. People of India have rejected Congress Party & hence it’s hell-bent on destroying the very institutions India cherishes by constantly attacking them.”
“The Loya judgement has been well settled by the Supreme Court. Those raising questions do not respect the judgment of the Apex Court pronounced after elaborate arguments. Does Rahul Gandhi consider himself above even the Supreme Court?” he added.
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Prasad further said that his party respect the independence of the judiciary. “We respect independence of judiciary. Record of Congress in compromising independence of judiciary, superseding judges even of Supreme Court during Emergency is well known. They rejoice only when the judgment is of their liking otherwise raise questions on the institutions itself.”
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a dig at the BJP, saying: “Remembering the brave Judge Loya, who wasn’t transferred.”
Remembering the brave Judge Loya, who wasn’t transferred.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 27, 2020