Three Judges Transferred

New Delhi, Mar 30 (UNI) A judge who allegedly took complimentary membership of an expensive club and two judges who reportedly traded blows have been transferred by President A P J Abdul Kalam, an announcement indicated tonight.

In another action, President Kalam appointed four Additional Judges.

The transfers of Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge Viney Mittal and Gujarat High Court Judges Behram Jahanbux Shethna and P B Majumdar were announced by the Law and Justice Ministry.

Justice Mittal has been transferred as a Judge of Madhya Pradesh High Court, Justice Shethna, as a Judge of the Sikkim High Court, and Justice Majumdar as a Judge of the Rajasthan High Court, the announcement said.

The three Judges have been directed to assume charge of their offices in the concerned High Court by April 14, 2007, the announcement said.

The announcement gave no reasons but, according to published accounts, Justices Shethna and Majumdar were involved in a bizarre incident in which the former invited the latter to his home for tea during which the two ended up in a scuffle.

Justice Mittal was one of two Judges reportedly issued show cause notice by then Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice B K Roy for having taken complimentary club membership-- a move that led to the famous Judges' 'strike' or mass leave in April 2004.

Also announced was the appointment as Additional Judges of Justices Kuldip Singh and Rajeev Sharma in Himachal Pradesh High Court and Justices Laxmi Narain Mittal and Nawab Singh in Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The appointments in that order of seniority are each for two years with effect from the dates the judges assume charge of their respective office.

UNI