"In exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 222 of the Constitution of India, the President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to transfer Shri Justice Arvind Singh Chandel, Judge, Chhattisgarh High Court, to be a Judge of the Patna High Court and to direct him to assume charge of his office in the Patna High Court," the notification said.

On March 15, the Supreme Collegium had initially suggested transferring Justice Chandel to the Madras High Court. However, in a communication dated March 17, Justice Chandel requested a reconsideration of the proposal. Instead, he expressed a preference for being transferred to the High Courts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Allahabad, Punjab and Haryana, or Delhi.

 

The Court Collegium partially acceded to his request and in its March 20 resolution recommended that he be transferred to Patna High Court. 

This has now been cleared by the Law Ministry.

The Patna High Court has a sanctioned strength of 53 judges but is currently functioning with 33 judges as on May 1, a vacancy position of 33.