DHCBA Women Lawyers Write To CJI Protesting Transfer Of Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju

The women lawyers of the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) have written to Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai protesting the sudden transfer of Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju from the Delhi High Court.

Signed by 66 women lawyers, including several senior advocates, the letter calls for transparency in judicial transfers and urges reconsideration of the move. “The wider issue of lack of transparency on the matter of transfers that lead to frenzied rumour mills that do a disservice on the issue of institutional integrity,” it adds.

“We, the women lawyers of the Delhi High Court Bar Association are by this letter registering our protest about the sudden transfer of Hon’ble Ms. Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju, Judge, Delhi High Court, who has been a member of the Delhi High Court and our colleague for 30 years, and we know her to be a person of the highest professional integrity, with an unblemished record,” the women lawyers," letter states.

Justice Ganju, who was elevated to the Bench after three decades at the Bar, is described by the women lawyers as a judge with an “unblemished record.”

“At the Bench, she is recognized as a competent Judge with exceptional legal acumen, delivering justice with dedication, integrity and fairness. She encourages the young Bar to argue matters, to boost their confidence. She has one of the highest disposal rates, effectively disposing of matters, reducing pendency, which is also a respite to languishing litigants,” the letter notes.

Highlighting that the frequent transfers of judges are undermining the confidence of the Bar, the letter stresses that members of the profession have nurtured judges in the ethos of the Delhi High Court’s unique traditions.

While acknowledging the arduous nature of judicial work, the lawyers underscored the need for a “nurturing environment” where judges can discharge their duties without the shadow of “extraneous politics and such like reasons that can affect their well-being.” They added that both judges and the Bar “are surely in the right to demand cogent reasons” for such transfers.

Among the signatories are senior advocates Malavika Rajkotia, Geeta Luthra, Maninder Acharya, Swathi Sukumar, Kaadambari Singh, Arundhati Katju, Diya Kapur and Malvika Trivedi, along with several other prominent members of the Delhi Bar.

Concluding with a call for transparent transfer procedures, the women lawyers wrote, "We therefore, respectfully protest the transfer of Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju and humbly request that our protest be registered and her pending transfer be reconsidered. Further, we request transparent transfer procedures that would help improve the institutional integrity that we, as officers of the Court, are as concerned about, as any member of the Bench would be."

A group of 94 Delhi-based advocates has also written separately to the CJI, raising similar concerns over the transfer.

The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) has written to Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and the Supreme Court collegium, raising concern over the “alarming frequency” of judicial transfers from the Delhi High Court.

In its letter dated September 1, 2025, the Bar body called for greater transparency and wider consultation in the process of judicial appointments and transfers, saying this would “not only strengthen the faith of the legal fraternity but also enhance public confidence in the judiciary.”

The move came after the Supreme Court Collegium’s recent recommendations to transfer Justice Arun Monga to the Rajasthan High Court and Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju to the Karnataka High Court. Both judges were appointed to the Delhi High Court earlier this year and, in a short time, reportedly earned the respect of the Bar and litigants alike for their judicial approach.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court has seen several new appointments in recent weeks. On July 24, three judicial officers were sworn in as High Court judges, followed by the oath-taking of six additional judges on July 21.

Letter: DHCBA women lawyers

Date: 3 September 2025