Justice Bhalla transferred as Ch'garh HC Judge

New Delhi, May 12: An Allahabad High Court Judge once reportedly tipped to be appointed Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court was announced tonight to have been transferred as a Judge of Chhattisgarh High Court.

Justice Jagdish Bhalla has been transferred by President A P J Abdul Kalam as a Judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court and directed to assume charge within two weeks, it was announced tonight.

An announcement by the Law and Justice Ministry said President Kalam acted after consultation with Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan.

Justice Bhalla has been directed to ''assume charge of his office in the Chhattisgarh High Court on or before 25th May, 2007,'' the announcement said.

Moves to elevate him as Chief Justice-- first of the Kerala High Court and then of the Chhattisgarh High Court-- were dogged by allegations over a land deal involving his wife.

A former Law Minister and senior advocate Shanti Bhushan petitioned several public authorities, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.

As early as December 2006 the Supreme Court collegium then headed by former Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal recommended his promotion as Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court.

Just before retiring in January, Justice Sabharwal told a news conference that Justice Bhalla's name was considered for elevation after a discussion with Bar leaders from Allahabad indicated there was no truth in the allegations about purchase of land by his wife at a price less than the market value.

In February, President Kalam sought clarification from the Law and Justice Ministry by returning to it the file on Justice Bhalla's promotion.

Again, last month, the collegium was reported to have cleared his elevation as Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court.

UNI