President Asks Justice Nisha Banu, Who Hasn't Abided By Transfer Order, To Join Kerala High Court By Dec 20

The President has directed Justice Nisha Banu to assume charge at the Kerala High Court on or before December 20, 2025. It may be noted that the Centre had notified her transfer from the Madras High Court to the Kerala High Court on October 14, 2025.

In a notification issued on December 12, the centre said

"The President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to direct Smt. Justice J. Nisha Banu, Judge, Madras High Court to assume charge of her office in the Kerala High Court on or before 20.12.2025".

On August 27, 2025, the collegium had recommended her transfer from to the Kerala High Court. Justice Banu was third senior most judge of the Madras High Court and part of the High Court collegium when her transfer was notified. She was also the senior-most woman judge of the Madras High Court.

When Justice Banu did not join the Kerala High Court despite the transfer order, a group of lawyers from Madras High Court wrote to the President of India, Vice President of India, CJI BR Gavai, Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal raising strong objection. They said that Justice Banu not joining the Kerala High Court was judicial indiscipline.

Various bar bodies from the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court had come out against the transfer of Justice Banu. They said that Justice Banu should be retained in the Madras High Court considering her seniority (Justice Banu would be 9th in seniority at the Kerala High Court).