Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan Denounces Executive Interference in Judge Transfers

Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan warned on January 24, 2026, that the Indian judiciary risks losing its credibility and legitimacy if judicial independence is diluted through executive influence. Speaking at the Principal G.V. Pandit Memorial Lecture at ILS Law College in Pune, Bhuyan criticized the practice of transferring judges who issue orders inconvenient to the government, describing such actions as tools to penalize members of the bench.

Bhuyan specifically condemned a decision by the Supreme Court Collegium to modify the transfer of Justice Atul Sreedharan. In October 2025, the Collegium altered a proposal to move Sreedharan from the Madhya Pradesh High Court to the Chhattisgarh High Court following a request from the Central Government, eventually transferring him to the Allahabad High Court. Bhuyan asserted that admitting a transfer was made at the government's request reveals a striking intrusion into a process designed to be immune from political influence.

While acknowledging the Collegium system lacks transparency, Bhuyan maintained it remains a superior option to alternatives that would grant the executive more power over appointments. The remarks drew divided reactions from legal professionals. Advocates Satyam Singh Rajput and Aman Lekhi supported Bhuyan, arguing that such interference damages faith in the judiciary. Conversely, advocate KK Manan disputed the claims and urged the Government of India and Parliament to replace the collegium system, citing a lack of merit in certain appointments.