Kochi: Kerala High Court here on Thursday dismissed the plea filed by Kozhikode District and Sessions judge S Krishnakumar, who had made controversial observations in his orders while granting bail to Civic Chandran in sexual harassment cases. 

The judge approached the court to quash the order issued by it transferring him as presiding officer of a Labour Court in Kollam. However, court maintained that it cannot intervene in the transfer order. 

The ruling has been done by judge Anu Sivaraman. In its order, the court pointed out that the judge Krishnakumar has been transferred to position similar to district court judge and it cannot intervente to that order. The court pointed out that it expects Krishnakumar being a senior lawyer will abide by the order.

It may be noted that the judge Krishnakumar was transferred after the controversial observations.

In his plea filed,  Krishnakumar had said, he was discharging his duty as a Principal District and Sessions Judge, Kozhikode, from June 6, 2022 and his transfer order issued by the Registrar of the High Court was against the transfer norms.

The judge contended that as per transfer norms, he was entitled to continue as Principal District and Sessions judge, Kozhikode, till his retirement on May 31, 2023.

Krishnakumar said he can be transferred as per the norms before completing three years of service only if it is necessary in the interest of administration or under special circumstances.

"Wrong order passed while discharging judicial duty cannot be a ground for transfer," the judge said in the plea.

Krishnakumar said transferring him was illegal as it was a deputation post and his consent, which was required for transferring him to that post, was not obtained before taking that decision.

The judge said he has been having an unblemished service of 27 years and at the fag end of his career transferring him would tell upon his dedication while discharging duty as a judicial officer.

According to the transfer order issued on August 23, Muralee Krishna S, District and Sessions Judge, Manjeri, would be the new District and Sessions judge, Kozhikode.