Attempting To Continue In Collegium: Madras HC Lawyers Write To President Of India Objecting To Justice Nisha Banu Not Joining Kerala HC Despite Transfer
The letter signed by fifty lawyers of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court is also addressed to the CJI, Chief Justices of Kerala and Madras High Courts, among others.
Fifty lawyers of the Madras High Court have written a letter to the President of India, objecting to Justice Nisha Banu of the Madras High Court not joining the Kerala High Court, where the Judge has been transferred.
The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended the transfer of Justice Banu from her parent High Court to the Kerala High Court, along with 13 other recommendations for transfer on August 27, 2025.
The Central Government had accepted the recommendation on October 15, 2025.
The transfer was objected to by the Bar Associations of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, stating, "Currently, she ranks in the 3rd position and a member in collegium by seniority in the Madras High Court. A potential transfer to the Kerala High Court would drastically impact her seniority, placing her in the 9th position". The Associations had written to the Chief Justice of India and the President of India on October 22, 2025.
The present letter by lawyers states that Justice Banu has not joined the Kerala High Court till now, even though she has stopped attending judicial work in the Madras High Court since October 14, 2025.
The letter states that other Judges whose transfer was notified, including from the Delhi High Court, have joined their respective High Courts and have also taken oath and have sat in their judicial capacity last month and are discharging their duties.
The letter written today is addressed to the President and Vice-President of India, the Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, Justice Vikram Nath, Justice JK Maheswari, Justice BV Nagarathna, Justice MM Sundresh, the Chief Justices of both the High Courts, the Union Law Minister, the Governors of both states, the Loksabha Speaker and the Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.
The letter states that "It is normal to take time to effect the transfer for at least 1 week. But in this case, it has been 3 weeks...." and that Kerala is only a neighbouring state.
The letter further states, "It is most unfortunate that this kind of judicial indiscipline & arrogance is on full stellar display by a Sitting High Court Judge" and that the conduct of the Judge has tarnished the reputation of the Madras High Court.
The signatories of the letter clarify in the letter that they have nothing personal against the Judge.
"However, it has been reliably learnt that Hon'ble Justice Nisha Banu is intentionally delaying her joining in the Kerala High Court to stay in the Hon'ble Madras High Court Collegium for some more time for obvious reasons", the letter alleges.
The letter seeks "appropriate immediate actions to relieve Hon'ble Justice Nisha Banu from the Madras High Court in the interests of justice and fair play".