Justice T Vinod Kumar continues to hold court in Telangana two weeks after transfer to Madras High Court

Two weeks after the Central government notified his transfer to Madras High Court, Telangana High Court Justice T Vinod Kumar continues to hold court in his parent High Court.

The Central government on July 14 cleared the transfers of 19 judges out of 22 recommended by the Supreme Court on May 26. 

While a notification for Justice Kumar’s transfer has been issued, there is no clear indication of when he intends to move to Tamil Nadu. In contrast, the other 18 judges who were transferred on July 14 have already joined their respective High Courts.

It is unusual for a High Court judge to continue working at his parent High Court for long after the decision to transfer him is notified. The judges usually get intimation in advance about their transfer and leave from their existing High Courts within a day or two.

Telangana High Court website record shows that Justice Kumar has been holding court regularly despite the transfer order. Justice Kumar held court on Monday too and heard the listed cases and pronounced decisions on certain reserved cases.

Justice Kumar enrolled as an advocate in 1988.

He was elevated to the Bench in August 2019.

At Telangana High Court, he presides over a single bench with a roster of writ petitions related to the Home, Excise, Law & Legislative departments, Waqf Board, Right to Information Act, company matters and cases relating to the commercial division.

Supreme Court Collegium on May 26 recommended Justice Kumar's transfer to Madras High Court. The Collegium statement did not disclose whether he had sought re-consideration of the proposal.

The government cleared the same on July 14.

Telangana High Court Registrar General S Goverdhan Reddy confirmed to the Bar & Bench that Justice Kumar is still at Telangana High Court.

“We don’t have any information from his lordship. Sir is continuing, as you said… his lordship has not said anything for continuing. We don’t have information so far as his lordship’s continuation is concerned,” Reddy said.

Madras High Court Registrar General’s office also revealed to the Bar & Bench that they do not have any intimation about Justice Kumar’s joining. 

Bar & Bench also contacted Justice Kumar’s office for his version but did not get any answer. The copy will be updated in case his response is received.