New Delhi: The Ministry of Law and Justice on Wednesday transferred Justice S. Muralidhar of the Delhi High Court to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The judge was hearing the Delhi violence case and the late evening notification came on the day when a bench headed by him expressed "anguish" over the Delhi Police's failure to register FIRs against alleged hate speeches by three BJP leaders.
A notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice states that the President took the decision after consulting the Chief Justice of India.
"In exercise of the power conferred by Clause (1) of Article 222 of the Constitution of India, the President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to transfer Justice S. Muralidhar, Judge of the Delhi High Court, as a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and to direct him to assume charge of his office in the Punjab and Haryana High Court," read a notification of the Law Ministry released on Wednesday.
"A government notification about the transfer was issued on Wednesday which said that after consultation with chief Justice Arvind Bobde, President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday transferred Justice S Murlidhar, judge of Delhi High Court, as Judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The notification further said the President has directed Muralidhar to assume charge of his office in Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The notification, however, does not mention when he has to take the charge of his office.
Recently, the Supreme Court Collegium had recommended the transfer of Justice Muralidhar to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Earlier in the day, a high court bench headed by Justice Muralidhar passed a series of orders with regard to the violence in North-East Delhi and said that "another 1984-like situation cannot be allowed to happen in the city under its watch."