The Collegium has also issued a statement intimating the proposed transfer of Patna High Court judge, Rakesh Kumar to the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

Justice Kumar had recently drawn controversy after he passed an order last August, highlighting the state of corruption in the judicial system.

Apart from from making scathing observations on the prevalence of judicial corruption, Justice Kumar had also urged the Supreme Court Collegium to re-introduce the policy decision of transferring judges out of their Parent High Court after elevation. A copy of his order had been directed to be placed before the Chief Justice of India and the Collegium Judges as well.

The order was, however, stayed by an 11 judge Bench of the High Court before being quashed days later by a 3 judge Bench. As part of the fallout, judicial work was also briefly withdrawn from Justice Kumar, before it was reassigned three days after. Justice Kumar’s transfer to the Andhra Pradesh High Court has been proposed following a meeting of the Collegium on October 15, 2019.

By three separate statements, the Supreme Court Collegium has also proposed the appointment of new judges to the High Courts of Meghalaya, Jammu and Kashmir and Gauhati. The Collegium has proposed that the following advocates and judicial officers be elevated as High Court judges, i.e.

• Judicial officer Wanlura Diengdoh as a judge of the Meghalaya High Court
• Advocates Moksha Kazmi (Khajuria) and Rajnesh Oswal as judges of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court
• Advocate Soumitra Saikia and judicial officers Parthivjyoti Saikia and S Hukato Swu as judges of the Gauhati High Court

[Read the Statements below]