Delhi High Court Reshuffles Roster: Sensitive MP/MLA Cases to Justice Manoj Jain

The Delhi High Court has announced a reshuffle of its case roster, transferring criminal cases involving sitting and former Members of Parliament and Legislative Assembly to Justice Manoj Jain. The change, effective from July 1, is part of the court's annual administrative exercise to streamline case listing.

Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma, who had been hearing these politically sensitive cases for nearly three years, has been reassigned to civil writ petitions. Her new docket includes cases related to mines, sexual harassment at the workplace, Right to Information matters, and disputes involving statutory authorities such as the Delhi Transport Corporation, Urban Arts Commission, and Airport Authority of India.

The High Court's annual roster reshuffle is a routine administrative move undertaken every year before the court reopens after the summer break. It aims to ensure efficient handling of cases by distributing work among judges based on their expertise and case backlog.

Justice Manoj Jain, who previously handled other criminal matters, will now primarily oversee cases against current and former lawmakers. This category of cases often attracts public and media attention due to its political implications.

The transfer of cases is a normal part of judicial administration and does not reflect any change in the merits or handling of individual cases. The Delhi High Court, like other high courts across India, periodically reassigns cases to manage its workload and ensure timely justice.

Court officials have clarified that the reshuffle is not driven by any external factors and is purely administrative in nature. The change is expected to take effect from the first day of July after the summer vacation ends.