The Allahabad High Court issued the transfer order on Sunday, moving Ravi Kumar Diwakar from the fast‑track court to the Muzaffarnagar family court as its Additional Principal Judge.
Diwakar had handed down 23 death sentences in 11 cases from April to September, a figure that drew intense scrutiny from legal circles and the public alike. His tenure in the fast‑track court was marked by swift adjudication, but the sheer number of capital rulings raised questions about procedural safeguards.
Earlier this year, Diwakar publicly questioned the removal of 97 part‑heard cases, including a nearly decade‑old NDPS prosecution, by administrative orders from former District and Sessions Judge B K Singh. He argued that such withdrawals violated the statutory process and threatened judicial independence, sparking debate among judges and bar associations.
With Shiv Kumari stepping in as the Additional District and Sessions Judge, the court’s composition will shift. The move is expected to prompt a review of the court’s case‑management protocols, and Diwakar’s stance may influence future safeguards against executive interference in judicial proceedings.