7-member delegation from Gujarat High Court bar to meet CJI DY Chandrachud over transfer of Justice Nikhil S Kariel

A seven-member delegation representing the Gujarat High Court Advocates' Association (GHCAA) will meet Chief Justice of India Dhananjay Chandrachud on November 21, Monday to urge him to reconsider the proposed transfer of Justice Nikhil Kariel from Gujarat High Court to Patna High Court..President of GHCAA Prithviraj Jadeja confirmed to Bar & Bench that the delegation of the lawyers would comprise of four senior advocates, the in-charge President of GHCAA, its general secretary and also a lady advocate representing the women advocates, The following would be the seven lawyers in the delegation:- Senior Advocate Mihir Thakore;- Senior Advocate Nirupam Nanavati;- Senior Advocate Mihir Joshi; - Senior Advocate Percy Kavina;- GHCAA President Prithviraj Jadeja;- GHCAA Secretary Hardik Brahmbatt;- Advocate Kruti Shah..Jadeja said that the meeting would be at 1.30 pm on Monday."We were trying to get an appointment from Thursday 5 pm. However, there was no proper response from the staff. They have called us and informed that the CJI has finally agreed to meet on Monday 1:30 PM," Jadeja informed.The delegation would be making a representation to the CJI and would urge him to reconsider the proposal of Justice Kariel's transfer. They are also expected to meet other judges of the Collegium..The GHCAA has been staging a protest since Thursday after the news regarding the transfer of Justice Kariel to Patna High Court was reported by the media.During the morning session of the Court on Thursday, over 300 advocates had gathered in the court hall of Chief Justice Aravind Kumar of the Gujarat High Court to mourn, what they called as the death of independence of judiciary.The GHCAA had subsequently resolved to abstain from work indefinitely till the Supreme Court Collegium reconsiders its decision to transfer Justice Kariel."It is reiterated that the transfer of such honest and upright Judge for which the entire Bar is vouching in one voice is not in right taste and is being strongly opposed as it strikes at the Rule of Law and Independence of Judiciary which are two prime edifice on which our Constitution rests. It is also resolved that the delegation may convey the feeling of the Bar to all concerned including CJI and other Judges of the collegium," the resolution passed by GHCAA said..On Friday morning, when the judges of the High Court entered their respective court halls, they were welcomed by empty courtrooms, with hardly few litigants or parties-in-person present.