In Brief
This case concerns the proper procedure for assigning a review petition when the original judge has relocated from one bench to another. The appellant sought to have a review petition heard by Justice Patel at the Mumbai seat after he had left the Goa Bench. Justice Chavan rejected this request. The Supreme Court held that such matters should be referred to the Chief Justice on the administrative side to assign the review to an appropriate judge, rather than being decided by a judge on the judicial side. The Chief Justice's role as master of the roster and the specific authority granted under High Court Rules made this an administrative matter, not a judicial one.
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