President directs Justice Nisha Banu to assume charge at Kerala High Court by December 20

The President of India has directed Justice Nisha Banu to assume charge as a Judge of the Kerala High Court on or before December 20, 2025.

"The President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to direct Smt. Justice J. Nisha Banu, Judge, Madras High Court to assume charge of her office in the Kerala High Court on or before 20.12.2025," the notification read.

The Central government had notified Justice Banu’s transfer from the Madras High Court to the Kerala High Court on October 14, 2025. However, she has not taken charge at the Kerala High Court even nearly two months after the notification.

The delay had led to disquiet among members of the Kerala High Court Bar, according to media reports. Responding to a report on the Bar’s reaction, Justice Banu had earlier told The Hindu that she had applied for leave and had also sought reconsideration of her transfer.

“When approached for her reaction, Justice Banu said she had submitted an earned leave application at the Madras High Court in view of her son’s marriage and was simultaneously awaiting the result of a request made for reconsideration of her transfer to the Kerala High Court,” the newspaper reported last month, quoting the judge.

In this backdrop, Congress MP Km Sudha R raised questions in the Lok Sabha on Friday, seeking clarification from the Union law ministry on whether Justice Banu continued to be part of the Madras High Court collegium and whether she had signed any list of candidates recommended for appointment as judges.

The parliamentarian also asked whether the judge had sought reconsideration of her transfer.

In response, the government did not address these queries directly. Instead, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal outlined the constitutional and procedural framework governing judicial appointments and transfers.

Referring to Article 217 of the Constitution, the minister said that a judge is required to vacate her present office upon being transferred to another High Court. He stated that Justice Banu’s transfer was notified on October 14, 2025, and cited Article 217(1)(c), which provides that the office of a judge shall be vacated upon transfer by the President to any other High Court.

[Read Notification]