Ravi Shankar Prasad: Muralidhar's transfer a “well-settled process”

Justice Muralidhar who criticized the Delhi police over the violence in Delhi has been transferred to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. 

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday said a “well-settled process” was followed in the transfer of Delhi High Court judge Justice S Muralidhar to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and pointed out that consent of the judge is taken in the decision.

Transfer of Hon’ble Justice Muralidhar was done pursuant to the recommendation dated 12.02.2020 of the Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice of India. While transferring the judge consent of the judge is taken. The well settled process have been followed.

— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) February 27, 2020

By politicising a routine transfer, Congress has yet again displayed its scant regard for the judiciary. People of India have rejected Congress Party and hence it is hell bent on destroying the very institutions India cherishes by constantly attacking them.

— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) February 27, 2020

The Loya judgement has been well settled by the Supreme Court.
Those raising questions do not respect the judgment of the Apex Court pronounced after elaborate arguments. Does Rahul Gandhi consider himself above even the Supreme Court?

— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) February 27, 2020

We respect independence of judiciary. Record of Congress in compromising independence of judiciary, superseding judges even of Supreme Court during Emergency is well known.They rejoice only when the judgment is of their liking otherwise raise questions on the institutions itself.

— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) February 27, 2020

The Party, which is the private property of one family, has no right to lecture about objectionable speeches. The family & it’s cronies have routinely used the harshest words against the Courts, the Army, the CAG, the PM and the people of India.

— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) February 27, 2020

The move to transfer S Muralidhar has created a furore, with the Delhi High Court Bar Association up in arms against the said decision of the Supreme Court collegium.

The Bar Association has condemned the move of transferring “one of the finest judges to have adorned the Bench” as being “detrimental to our noble institution, but also tend[ing] to erode and dislodge the faith of the common litigant in the justice dispensation system.”

The Indian National Congress party also reacted on Muralidhar's transfer.

The writing is on the wall - disagree with the BJP & you're either killed, transferred, suspended or arrested. Even the judiciary is not spared.

Justice has not just been denied, but destroyed. https://t.co/uHKh6RjMDf

— Congress (@INCIndia) February 27, 2020

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "The midnight transfer of Justice Muralidhar isn’t shocking given the current dispensation, but it is certainly sad & shameful."

The midnight transfer of Justice Muralidhar isn’t shocking given the current dispensation, but it is certianly sad & shameful.

Millions of Indians have faith in a resilient & upright judiciary, the government’s attempts to muzzle justice & break their faith are deplorable. pic.twitter.com/KKt4IeAMyv

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) February 27, 2020