The Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice DY
Chandrachud reiterated its recommendation to transfer Manipur High Court judge
Justice MV Muralidaran to the Calcutta High Court for better administration of
justice, rejecting his request to either shift him to his parent Madras High
Court or not transfer him at all.
A Bench of justice MV Muralidharan had on March 27
ordered the Manipur Government to consider a representation by a Meitei
organisation seeking scheduled tribe status, which was said to be the immediate
trigger for the festering ethnic conflict in the State with Meiteis living in
the valley on one side and Kuki and other tribals inhabiting the hills on the
other.
Justice MV Muralidharan had directed the State Government
to consider the representation for ST status to the majority Meitei community
and write to the Centre within four weeks.
The collegium, also comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan
Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai and Surya Kant, refused Justice MV Muralidaran’s
request to transfer him to Madras High Court or permit him to continue to
function in the High Court of Manipur instead of transferring him to Calcutta.
“On October 9, 2023, the Collegium proposed the
transfer of Justice MV Muralidaran, Judge, High Court of Manipur (PHC: Madras),
to the High Court at Calcutta, for better administration of justice.
“In terms of the Memorandum of Procedure, we have
consulted one of the judges of the Supreme Court who, being conversant with the
affairs of the High Court of Manipur, is in a position to offer views on the
proposed transfer,” it said.
The collegium said it considered the request made by
Justice MV Muralidaran but did not find merit in them.
“The collegium, therefore, resolves to reiterate its
recommendation dated October 9, 2023, to transfer Mr Justice MV Muralidaran to
the High Court at Calcutta,” it said.
PTI
