Transfer of Judges : 2025

 Transfer of Judges : 2025

Ronald Dworkin wrote in his book "Taking Rights Seriously" that "judicial decisions are political decisions, at least in the broad sense that attracts the doctrine of political responsibility". [See page 88, Harvard University Press, 1977]

According to news reported by GCtR, Hon'ble J. L. Jamir has been transferred to Calcutta HC from Gauhati HC on 14 July 2025. Hon'ble Suman Shyam of Gauhati HC has also been transferred to Bombay HC on 14 July 2025. The new CJ of Gauhati HC will be Hon'ble J. Ashutosh Kumar who will come from Patna HC (he has been transferred earlier also within few months from his joining to Delhi HC). Hon'ble J. MR Pathak has been transferred from Gauhati HC to Orissa HC. What is visible here is that 2 Judges have been given nearby postings but the other Judge has been given distant posting.  

Hon'ble J. Dhulia was earlier CJ at Gauhati HC and now a Judge at SC. He remained CJ of Gauhati HC for 1.5 years and then went to SC. His age was more than 60 but less than 61 when he became CJ of Gauhati HC. In fact, Hon'ble J. Dhulia faced transfer just once in comparison to Hon'ble J. Ashutosh Kumar. Hon'ble J. Ashutosh Kumar will become CJ of Gauhati HC at the age above 58 years but below 59 years. So, if age is criteria, then Ashutosh Kumar has high chances of going to SC from Gauhati HC as he has experience of now 3 different High Courts. 

Another Judge from Gauhati HC who went to SC is Shri Sandeep Mehta ; he was originally from Rajasthan HC ; got transferred once to Gauhati HC as CJ and then went to SC. He was there in Gauhati HC for less than 1 year. He was in Rajasthan HC from May 2011 to 14 Feb 2023. He reached Gauhati HC as CJ at the age above 60 years but less than 61 years. 

Another Judge from Gauhati HC who went to SC is Hon. J. Vijay Bishnoi ; he was also originally from Rajasthan HC and transferred just once in his career. He became a Judge in January 2013 at age of 49 years. When he was made CJ of Gauhati HC in February 2024, his age was below 60 years but above 59 years. After spending more than 1 year but less than 1.5 years, he was elevated to Supreme Court. 

Those who have earlier gone out of Gauhati HC with Gauhati HC being their parent HC, there are few names. Retd CJI Ranjan Gogoi was originally from Gauhati HC and then transferred to some other HC and got elevated to SC from that HC. Hon. J. Ujjal Bhuyan is also originally from Gauhati HC and got his transfer to other HC and then became CJ of Telangana HC from where he got elevated to SC. He remained CJ of Telangana HC for around 13 months.