Delhi High Court Upholds Transfer Decision Against Alapan Bandyopadhyay

The Delhi High Court declined to review its previous decision dismissing Alapan Bandyopadhyay's challenge over the relocation of his case from Kolkata to New Delhi by the CAT. This follows Bandyopadhyay's retirement and subsequent legal proceedings linked to his absence from a 2021 cyclone meeting led by PM Modi.

In a decisive move, the Delhi High Court has once again dashed hopes for Alapan Bandyopadhyay, the former West Bengal chief secretary, by refusing to re-evaluate its ruling on a case transfer. The case, originally set in Kolkata, was ordered to New Delhi by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), leaving Bandyopadhyay's challenge dismissed by the court.

Justices C Hari Shankar and Jyoti Singh, spotlighting the lack of merit, dismissed his review petition, reinforcing a March 2022 judgement by former Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Singh. The court clarified that the legal transfer adhered strictly to jurisdictional norms, as procedural actions unfolded in New Delhi.

This legal journey commenced post-Bandyopadhyay's choice to retire, aligning with initial superannuation plans, amid fallout from bypassing a cyclone 'Yaas' strategy meeting spearheaded by Prime Minister Modi in May 2021. Notably, the Supreme Court had intervened earlier, granting jurisdictional leniency to reapproach the Delhi High Court.

(With inputs from agencies.)