New Delhi: The Centre today (Oct 19, 2004) said transfer of Chief Justices of various High Courts on the recommendations of the collegium of Supreme Court Judges was only in "public interest" and an "administrative necessity" and not "punitive".

"The recommendations are based on administrative need and in public interest. They are not punitive," Law Minister H R Bharadwaj told reporters a day after receiving the letter from the CJI, Justice R C Lahoti, who heads the collegium, conveying the recommendations of the collegium in this regard.

"I have already started processing them and a few of the recommendations of the CJI would be notified within a couple of days. The entire recommendations would be complied with in a matter of four to six weeks," Bharadwaj said.

Asked about the reported allegations against certain CJs and the transfers recommended by the collegium, he said, "We are dealing with no allegations at all."

He said the views of the Chief Ministers and the Governors of States concerned, where Judges from other High Courts have been elevated as Chief Justices, would soon be sought by his Ministry.

It may be recalled that the collegium of Supreme Court judges had recommended to the Government transfer and appointment of Chief Justices in eight High Courts of Punjab and Haryana, Madras, Patna, Kerala, Uttaranchal, Calcutta, Allahabad and Karnataka.