A govt order for Justice S Muralidhar’s transfer to Punjab & Haryana HC came on Feb 26, hours after he asked why FIRs were not filed against BJP leaders.
New Delhi| Justice S Muralidhar, whose transfer after his sharp criticism of the police at a hearing on the Delhi violence sparked a political controversy, as compared to the “Kohinoor” in a moving farewell at the High Court today.
“We are losing a most eminent judge who can discuss any topic of law and decide any type of matter”, Delhi High Court Chief Justice DN Patel said at the ceremony.
When it was his turn to speak, Justice Muralidhar remarked, “Coming to this court was an unbelievable irony.”
He informed the gathering, how the law was not the first choice when it came to his career. He said, “I was not meant to do law. I used to play cricket with the son of a lawyer and I used to leave my cricket bag in his chambers. I had signed up for MSC.”
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Justice Muralidhar eventually began a law practice in Chennai in September 1984. He shifted to Delhi to practice at the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court in 1987. At the event today, he also spoke of his early days in Delhi, when he was a junior under Former Attorney General G Ramaswamy.
According to barandbench.com, the Secretary of the Delhi High Court Bar Association, Abhijat, said at the farewell: “The Kohinoor of the High Court will be going a few 100 km away.”
In images posted on social media, scores of lawyers in black and white lined a giant hall and stairways, with senior judges seated around tables at the centre.
“When justice has to triumph, it will triumph. Be with the truth – Justice will be done,” Justice Muralidhar said, addressing the gathering.
He told fellow judges and lawyers that he had been informed about his transfer on February 17 by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde. He said he had replied that if he was going to be transferred anyway, he had no problem going to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The vote of thanks was rendered by the Vice President of the Delhi High Court Bar Association. In doing so, he also said, “This spectacular farewell is our answer to those asking what would Bar do now that the Collegium’s recommendation has been accepted by the Centre.”
(Inputs from Bar and Bench)
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