The Gujarat Judiaicial Officers (Retired) have came forward and formed a formal 'Association for Judges' for the Judicial Officers, whether inservice or retired with aim to collect information regarding difficulties, problems, discriminations and issues faced by Judicial Officers and provide them with way of better representation before appropriate authorities so that their problems can be addressed and Officers can work under healthy, uniform working atmosphere and to bring feeling of respect and dignity among them.
The Association has now written a letter to the Chief Justice of India S A Bobde and Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court to defer the Annual General Transfer for Judicial Officers till next year in wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
The Association has requested that the Transfer due for this year should be kept in abeyance until May 2021 citing this excecise if practised this year would cause immense hardship for the Subordinate Judicial Officers, along with their families and staff of the respective Courts concerned as well as the public at large.
The letter has mentioned that along with the Nation, Gujarat is facing the pandemic crisis at a grave level as the situation is quiet serious in the region and thus defering the transfer due this year will be prundant on part of authorities.
The letter also highlighted the difficulties that would arise if the Annual Transfer granted amid this pandemic crisis. Following are some of those:
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Due to lockdown observed in wake of COVID-19 for past few weeks all the Judicila Officers are much familiar with the circumstancescthey are coping with and better know how to manage work, atmosphere and family essentials and education of their children in upcoming situation. Therefore if the transfer is done, then it will be not easy for them to get transferred and their family members to adjust immediately considering continuation of the COVID-19 situation.
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It is to be noted that amid the COVID-19 crisis, it would be all the more difficult to carry out the shift as well, in terms of arranging for luggage etc. to be shifted while maintaining social distancing and other safety norms.
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The following months are of rainy season which anyhow effects immunity and thus may effect health of Officials and their families as they have to adjust to different weather and zone and this is unhealthy in terms if COVID-19 crisis.
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The delay in transfer or waiting more time for Annual General Transfer may also cause further inconvenience.
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Not many officers are due for transfer this year and hence the deferring of the Annual General Transfer for the next year would not cause many problems. Even Central Government and many authorities have announced not to transfer the employees this year in AGT owing to the virus pandemic.
The letter also mentioned that many High Courts, like Bombay, Allahbad, Madras, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, etc have already decided to defer the Annual General Transfers of judicial officers, even though the COVID-19 situation in these states are not as dire as in Gujarat.
It was submitted that defering the Transfer this year is not only reasonable and prudent but also the requirement of the time.
Thus citing the above grounds, the Association sought for deferment of Annual General Transfer of Judicial Officers for this year.
Read Letter Here:
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