Despite protests Justice Sanjay Kumar shifted out of Telangana HC

Hyderabad: The Government of India has issued a notification on Thursday transferring Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar, Judge of the Telangana High Court, as a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. It was informed that the President, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 222 of the Constitution of India and after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, has effected this transfer. He directed Justice Sanjay Kumar to assume charge of his office in the Punjab and Haryana High Court on or before 17th October 2019.

With this notification, the Supreme Court Collegium's decision to transfer Justice Sanjay Kumar has been approved by the Government. As is known, the decision of the Collegium sparked off a huge controversy as the Telangana High Court Advocates Association (TSHCAA) strongly opposed the decision to transfer Justice Sanjay Kumar. A five-day boycott call, given by the Association, saw court work coming to a grinding halt in High Court and several lower courts across Telangana, with advocates abstaining from work. A delegation of Association President, office bearers and senior advocates visited New Delhi and submitted representations to the Chief Justice of India and other Collegium members seeking a recall of their decision.

Justice Sanjay Kumar, who is presently the senior most judge in the Telangana High Court, will be a judge in Punjab and Haryana High Court at 14th position. The advocates in Telangana saw the decision of the Supreme Court Collegium as a punitive action against an upright and honest judge with an impeccable track record. It is also seen as a measure to scuttle the chances of Justice Sanjay Kumar getting elevated as a Chief Justice to any High Court. As per the norms, the senior most judge of a particular High Court is appointed as Chief Justice of another High Court in due course. After elevation of Justice R Subhash Reddy as a Supreme Court judge from being Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court, there is no one from Telangana High Court functioning as Chief Justice of any High Court. It is in this background that the legal fraternity here expected Justice P V Sanjay Kumar to be elevated as a Chief Justice of any High Court.

Justice P V Sanjay Kumar did his graduation in Commerce from Nizam College, Hyderabad and secured a law degree from Delhi University in the year 1988. He enrolled as a member of the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh in August 1988. He was elevated to the Bench as Additional Judge, High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, on 8th August 2008 and assumed charge as Permanent Judge of High Court of Andhra Pradesh on 20.01.2010.