New Delhi: With the Congress going all guns blazing at the government over the controversial transfer of Delhi High Court judge Justice S Muralidhar, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that it was a ‘routine transfer’, which has been politicised by the Congress.
Justice Muralidhar had, on Wednesday asked for First Information Reports (FIR)s against BJP leaders for hate speeches and also pulled up the police over the violence in the national capital.
Justice Muralidhar had said: “We cannot let another 1984-like event happen in this country”.
Surprisingly, on Wednesday late night, the Judge was transferred to Punjab and Haryana High Court, which sparked a row with the Congress alleging that he transfer was on purpose.
Justifying the transfer the government said that a “well-settled process” had been followed and the judge’s consent had been taken.
“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 has been followed,” the law minister tweeted.
“By politicising a routine transfer, Congress has yet again displayed its scant regard for the judiciary. People of India have rejected Congress Party and hence it is hell bent on destroying the very institutions India cherishes by constantly attacking them,” Prasad posted.
It is said that the notification of the transfer of the judge was issued around 11 pm on Wednesday night by the central government, about two weeks after it was recommended by the Supreme Court collegium on February 12.
On Wednesday, the Judge had got the videos of the hate speeches of BJP leaders-Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur, Abhay Verma and Parvesh Verma played in the court and he asked why there shouldn’t be FIRs against the four BJP leaders.
He told the Delhi Police chief to “seriously consider the consequences” of not registering the FIR.
Responding to this, when Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that FIRs would be registered at an “appropriate time”, Justice Muralidhar told him “What’s the appropriate time, Mr Mehta? The city is burning”.
The judge had asked the police to appear on Thursday with a status report.
The case is now listed before the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, Justice Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel.
