Protesting against the recommendation made by the Supreme Court Collegium to transfer Justice Nikhil S Kariel from Gujarat to Patna High Court, the Gujarat High Court Advocates Association (GHCAA) on Thursday decided to abstain from work indefinitely.
In a hurriedly-called meeting at 2:00 pm, the GHCAA further decided to make a representation to the Supreme Court judges hailing from the Gujarat High Court.
The meeting also resolved to make a representation to Justice Aravind Kumar, the Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court, conveying the anguish of the Bar to the Supreme Court Collegium.
Hundreds of Advocates and Senior Advocates gathered in the court hall of Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court, after coming to know about the transfer.
On being asked why they had assembled in court, Senior Advocate Mihir Thakore told the Chief Justice that the transfer of Justice Kariel from Gujarat to Patna High Court was the death of independence of judiciary, for which they wished to observe two minutes of silence.
The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, had on Wednesday recommended transfer of three judges in two High Courts for administrative reasons.
The Collegium recommended transfer of Justice Nikhil S Kariel from Gujarat to Patna High Court, Justice A. Abhishek Reddy from Telangana to Patna High Court, and acting Chief Justice of Madras High Court, Justice T. Raja to Rajasthan High Court.