Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya said on Monday that he joined the Bar’s sentiments on the transfers of Justices Tara Vitasta Ganju and Arun Monga.

“Let me, first of all, state before you that I respect the sentiments of members of the Bar on the transfer of our colleagues from this court… I would again express all my good wishes to both my colleagues and I join the Bar in their sentiment expressed through the President today,” the Chief Justice said. 

Justice Upadhyaya was speaking at the farewell ceremony organised by the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) for Justices Monga and Ganju. While Justice Monga has been transferred to Rajasthan, Justice Ganju has been sent to the Karnataka High Court. 

Notably, the transfers, especially of Justice Ganju, faced strong opposition from members of the Bar. The DHCBA, DHCBA women lawyers, as well as several other members of the Bar had written to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai voicing their opposition to Justice Ganju's transfer.

Speaking at the farewell ceremony today, DHCBA President N Hariharan said that the Bar felt a deep anguish over the transfers. 

“We are not at the point of confrontation, but the anguish needs to be expressed. As members of the Bar, we feel that if we stay quiet, we would be abdicating our duties. It is in this backdrop that we have gathered here today and bidding farewell to the two judges,” Hariharan said. 

Meanwhile, DHCBA Vice-President Sachin Puri stated that when the Bar members met the CJI Gavai over these transfers, they were assured that no more judges would be moved out of Delhi. 

In his address, Justice Monga said that this was his second departure from Delhi. 

“This is my second departure from here. The first one came was when I was elevated as a judge [of Punjab and Haryana High Court]…I leave as one of your own, I came here as one of your own, and I shall always carry that identity with me wherever I go,” he said. 

Justice Ganju said that it is not easy to say goodbye to a place which has shaped her as a lawyer and a judge. 

“As a judge, one must be open to every challenge and see not just the black and white of a case but the shades of human experience. Each matter, each moment has taught me something new, and that is the beauty of the profession we are in,” she said