Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker, who is retiring from the Allahabad High Court, has alleged that in 2018, the Supreme Court collegium, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra, transferred him from the Chhattisgarh High Court with the intention of causing him harm.
In expressing his appreciation to the current CJI, Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, for \”rectifying the injustice,\” Diwaker emphasized the shift in perspective from viewing his transfer as a \”bane\” to ultimately becoming a \”boon.\” Speaking during a ceremonial bench session on Tuesday commemorating his retirement, he revealed that the transfer, initiated by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, appeared to have been carried out with ill intentions. However, it led to significant support and cooperation from fellow judges and the legal community in Allahabad.
Diwaker, originally associated with the Chhattisgarh High Court, affirmed that he had discharged his duties satisfactorily in Chhattisgarh until October 2018. He acknowledged the recent recommendation by the Supreme Court collegium, under the leadership of CJI Chandrachud, for his elevation to the top post in the Allahabad High Court as a rectification of past injustice.
Earlier this year, Diwaker assumed the role of Acting Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court and took the oath on March 26, 2023. He expressed deep gratitude to Chief Justice DY Chandrachud for addressing the perceived injustice.
In May, despite Diwaker\’s seniority, the CJI-led collegium recommended the appointment of Andhra Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra as a Supreme Court judge. The collegium acknowledged the concern of superseding Chief Justice Diwaker but concluded that Justice Mishra was worthy of the Supreme Court appointment after considering all relevant factors.
