Nagpur: The transfer of justice Nitin Sambre from the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court to the Delhi high court has been widely hailed within the legal fraternity as a significant step up for a judge known for his firm stand on civic accountability and environmental issues.The Supreme Court collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavai, included Sambre in a list of 21 judges recommended for transfer or repatriation on Tuesday, making him the sole judge from the Bombay high court to be moved. This is the third good news for the Nagpur High Court Bar Association (HCBA) in two weeks after the elevation of justice Gavai as CJI on May 14, and then recommendation of justice Chandurkar for elevation to the apex court on May 26.Senior lawyers in Nagpur noted that this transfer is a recognition for Sambre’s impressive judicial record. “At the Delhi high court, Sambre will be second in seniority only to chief justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay, who previously served as chief justice at the Bombay high court from July 2023 to January 2025. He would be part of the judges collegium there,” they told TOI. “This is undoubtedly a positive development, reflecting the trust placed in justice Sambre’s ability to contribute at a higher level.”Justice Sambre is known for his rigorous approach to public interest litigations (PILs), especially in cases concerning urban governance and environmental protection. “He was relentless in holding officials accountable, summoning senior municipal officers and forest department heads to court whenever there were lapses,” High Court Bar Association (HCBA) members told TOI. “This approach will be an asset at the Delhi high court, where civic and environmental challenges are prominent.“The transfer process, which includes final approvals by state governors and chief ministers before the President of India’s assent, is expected to take some time. However, Nagpur’s legal community sees it as a clear step towards possible future elevation. “Given his seniority and judicial track record, many of us believe that justice Sambre is poised for elevation to the apex court in the coming years,” a senior lawyer said.During his tenure at the Nagpur bench, justice Sambre became known for imposing substantial fines on non-compliant officials and ensuring that govt departments acted on court orders promptly. His rulings consistently underscored the principle of public accountability, earning him respect across the legal landscape.At the Bombay high court, Sambre was seventh in seniority and was expected to move to the Mumbai principal seat this year after the elevation of justice Chandurkar to the top court. His appointment as the second senior-most judge at the Delhi high court is being seen as a reflection of his judicial capability and balanced approach to sensitive civic issues.The lawyers said Sambre’s departure will be felt deeply in the city as he knew the city’s civic issues thoroughly. “He was known for his no-nonsense approach and for holding the administration accountable.”“Justice Sambre set a high bar for administrative accountability and environmental governance,” said another senior lawyer. “His tough but fair approach made a real difference.”BOXKey cases before justice Sambre at Nagpur bench:– Ambazari Lake Flooding PIL: Ordered removal of illegal constructions and upheld need for proper flood management, consistently holding civic bodies accountable– Encroachments on footpaths PIL: Directed city authorities to remove encroachments and ensure pedestrian rights– Gorewada Zoo PIL: Directed state to furnish updates and resolve pending forest clearances– Pench Tiger Reserve Encroachments PIL: Summoned senior forest officials over non-compliance with court orders on removing encroachments– HSRP PIL: Sought detailed affidavits from state on implementation of High-Security Registration Plates, and recovery of pending challans– Expansion of Deekshabhoomi PIL: Insisted on strict compliance with court orders for expansion and maintenance of site
