Justice Muralidhar's transfer manifest 'arrogance of govt punch drunk on power': Manish Tewari

Congress leader Manish Tewari on Thursday said Delhi High Court judge Justice S Muralidhar has been transferred to Punjab and Haryana High Court for entirely "opaque reasons".

"Judge Muralidhar was under transfer to Chandigarh for entirely opaque reasons but to abruptly ask him to leave the day after a midnight hearing at his residence in Delhi that must have saved many lives," he tweeted.

"Every lawyer and judge in India who believes law and justice are higher callings than just a career must strongly protest and condemn crude attempt to intimidate Judiciary by arbitrary transfer of Justice S Muralidhar in the middle of the Delhi riot hearings," Tewari said.

A government notification about the transfer was issued on Wednesday which said that after consultation with Chief Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde, President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday transferred Justice S Muralidhar, judge of Delhi High Court, as Judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court.The notification further said that the President has directed Justice Muralidhar to assume charge of his office in Punjab and Haryana High Court.On February 12, the Supreme Court Collegium had in its meeting recommended to transfer Justice Muralidhar from Delhi High Court to Punjab and Haryana High Court.The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) last week condemned the transfer recommendation and also passed a resolution unanimously in this regard.