Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court Advocates’ Association (GHCAA) has announced an indefinite boycott of court proceedings in protest against the proposed transfer of Justice Sandeep N. Bhat from the Gujarat High Court to the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

The Supreme Court Collegium has proposed the transfer of 14 High Court judges, including Justice Bhat. While no official statement has been issued, sources indicated that only minor formalities remain before the proposal is forwarded to the Union government for approval.

Following reports of the Collegium’s deliberations, the GHCAA convened an Extraordinary General Body Meeting on Tuesday afternoon. The association resolved not only to abstain from work but also to submit a representation to the Supreme Court seeking withdrawal of the transfer proposal. A delegation comprising GHCAA president Brijesh J. Trivedi, Senior Advocates Mihir Joshi and Asim Pandya, along with advocates Hardik Brahmbhatt and Dipen Dave, will pursue the matter in New Delhi.

A senior lawyer representing the association said Justice Sandeep Bhat is respected for his integrity and fair judgments, adding that arbitrary transfers without transparent justification affect the morale of both the judiciary and the bar. He urged the Collegium to reconsider its proposal.

With court proceedings already disrupted, the strike is likely to escalate if the Supreme Court Collegium goes ahead with the transfer. Advocates cautioned that taking such decisions without consulting stakeholders could set an unhealthy precedent. DeshGujarat