President Ram Nath Kovind accepted the resignation of Chief Justice of the Madras High Court VK Tahilramani on Saturday, 21 September, reported Bar & Bench. Justice Vineet Kothari has been appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of the high court, according to ANI.
Justice Tahilramani submitted her resignation on 6 September, in protest against the Supreme Court collegium’s proposal to transfer her to the Meghalaya High Court.
Justice Tahilramani's request to reconsider her transfer proposal was rejected by the collegium consisting of CJI Ranjan Gogi, Justices Bobde, Ramana, Arun Mishra and Nariman on 3 September, Live Law reported.
According to the advocates of Madras High Court, Justice Tahilramani’s transfer was seen to be a move to ‘downgrade’ her, and protests had erupted from various quarters.
A one-day court boycott was also held by lawyers across Tamil Nadu as a result on 10 September.
‘Transfer Based on Cogent Reasons’
The Supreme Court had on 12 September said each of the recommendations for transfer of Chief Justices and Judges of various high courts was based on "cogent reasons," reported news agency PTI.
“Though it would not be in the interest of the institution to disclose the reasons for transfer, if found necessary, the Collegium will have no hesitation in disclosing the same,” the statement had added.
It also said that each of the recommendations was made after “full and complete deliberations" and the same were "unanimously agreed upon by the Collegium.”
Justice Tahilramani became a judge in the Bombay High Court in June 2001. She was appointed as the Chief Justice of Madras High Court in August 2018.
(With inputs from Bar & Bench, Live Law and PTI.)
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