NEW DELHI: Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said Lok Sabha on Friday that Proposals for transfer of 10 high court judges are under various stages of processing. 

The Law Minister's statement comes days after the Supreme Court expressed displeasure over the Central government's delay in clearing recommendations for the  transfer of High Court judges, saying it was a very serious issue.

In his written response, the minister asserted that "no timeline" has been outlined in the Memorandum of Procedure for the transfer of judges from one high court to another. "As of February 06, 2023, proposals for transfer of ten high court judges from one high court to other high courts are under various stages of processing," he said, adding that the judges of high courts are transferred according to the procedure laid down in the Memorandum of Procedure prepared in 1998.

As per the existing Memorandum of Procedure, the proposal for transfer of high court judges is initiated by the Chief Justice of India in consultation with 4 senior-most judges of the Apex Court, he pointed out.

He added that the procedure further states that the CJI is required to consider the opinions of both the chief justice of the high court from which the judge is to be transferred and the chief justice of the high court to which the transfer is to be made.

"All transfers are to be made in public interest for promoting better administration of justice throughout the country.  The procedure does not specify a timeframe for the transfer of justices from one high court to another "he observed.

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