Judge hearing Salman Khan’s bail plea transferred along with 86 others by Rajasthan High Court

Jodhpur: An major development took place on late Friday evening. The name of the judge, hearing Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s bail plea in connection with Black Buck poaching case name cropped up in the list of 87 judges, who have been transferred by the Jodhpur (Rajasthan) High Court.

Salman Khan has been lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail since April 5, following the verdict was pronounced with regards to the Black Buck poaching case. The actor has been awarded five years of rigorous imprisonment by the court of Dev Kumar Khatri for killing two Black Bucks, a species on the verge of extinction. Significantly, Saif Ali Khan, Neelam Kothari, Sonali Bendra and Tabu, have been acquitted by the court. These four had also been co-accused in this case.

On Thursday itself, Salman’s counsels put forward the bail plea at the court of District & Sessions Judge, Ravindra Kumar Joshi. However, after Friday’s hearing, Joshi had reserved the order for Saturday. Surprisingly, on Friday evening itself the Rajasthan High Court issued a list of 87 judges to be transferred. Ravindra Joshi’s name includes the list. The transfer include ‑ some on request too. The judge hearing Salman Khan’s bail plea had not asked for a transfer.

However, since this move involves mass transfer and posting, it is being considered a routine one.

Law experts are of the opinion that now it depends on the present judge, if he would want to pronounce the judgment or leave it for his successor.