Supreme Court Collegium recommends the transfer of Chhatisgarh High Court Judge, Justice Arvind Singh Chandel to Patna High Court

On March 20, 2024, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the transfer of Chhatisgarh High Court judge, Justice Arvind Singh Chandel to the Patna High Court. The Collegium consisting of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Surya Kant, Justice Aniruddha Bose, and Justice BR Gavai issued a resolution recommending the transfer of Justice Arvind Singh Chandel. While recommending his transfer, the Collegium observed “We have carefully gone through the request made by Mr Justice Arvind Singh Chandel. We are of the view that the request of Mr. Justice Arvind Singh Chandel to reconsider the proposal for transfer or to transfer him to any of the above five High Courts cannot be accepted. his difficulty, the Collegium partially accedes to his request and resolves to recommend that Mr Justice Arvind Singh Chandel be transferred to the High Court of Judicature at Patna, instead of the Madras High Court as proposed by the Collegium.”

Earlier on March 15, 2024, the Collegium proposed the transfer of Mr. Justice Chandel, Judge, High Court of Chhattisgarh, to the Madras High Court, for better administration of justice. In terms of the Memorandum of Procedure, Justice Chandel was requested to send his response. By a communication dated March 17, 2024, he requested reconsideration of the proposal of his transfer or to consider transferring him to any of five High Courts, Rajasthan High Court, Madhya Pradesh High Court, Allahabad High Court, Punjab and Haryana High Court, or Delhi High Court. The bench further consulted one of the SC judges who being conversant with the affairs of the Chhattisgarh HC is in a position to offer views on the proposed transfer. Further, the resolution reads, “the Chief Justice of the High Court of Judicature at Patna whose opinion was sought in terms of the Memorandum of Procedure also conveyed his consent to the proposed transfer of Mr Justice Arvind Singh Chandel.” Therefore, the Collegium recommended the transfer of Justice Chandel from the Chhatisgarh HC to the Patna HC.