The Central government has notified the transfer of Justice SV Bhatti from the Andhra Pradesh High Court to the Kerala High Court.

The notification dated yesterday to this effect states,

“In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 222 of the Constitution of India, the President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to transfer Shri Justice Sarasa Venkatanarayana Bhatti, Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, as a Judge of the Kerala High Court and to direct him to assume charge of his office in the Kerala High Court on or before 19th March, 2019.”

The proposal to transfer Justice SV Bhatti to Kerala High Court was first discussed and approved by the Collegium in its meeting held on January 15, 2019.

The recommendation was then reconsidered by the Collegium in its meeting held on February 19, 2019, after Justice Bhatti requested the Collegium to consider transferring him to Telangana High Court. However, by the same representation, Justice Bhatti expressed his willingness to go to the Kerala High Court as well.

The Collegium, therefore, decided to reiterate its recommendation to transfer Justice Bhatti to the Kerala High Court last month.

Read the notification: