A night after the Centre issued the notification to transfer Justice S Muralidhar, who was hearing the Delhi violence case, Congress on Thursday lashed out at the Modi-led government, saying it was a "classic hit-and-run" injustice by the ruling party.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, in a press conference, said the urgency in transfer had "exposed the BJP's politics of revenge."
The grand old party alleged that Justice Murlidhar had been transferred to save BJP leaders in the Delhi violence case.
"It seems those doing justice in the country will now not be spared," he said.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, too, attacked the government over the transfer, saying the Centre's attempts to "muzzle" justice and "break people's faith in an upright judiciary are deplorable".
"The midnight transfer of Justice Muralidhar isn't shocking given the current dispensation, but it is certainly sad & shameful," Priyanka Gandhi tweeted.
"Millions of Indians have faith in a resilient & upright judiciary, the government’s attempts to muzzle justice & break their faith are deplorable," she said.
On Wednesday, Justice Murlidhar took the Centre, state government and Delhi Police to task after they failed to contain violence during riots in the northeastern part of the national capital. The death toll in the deadly riots has risen to 32, according to the latest reports.
The High Court said it won't let "another 1984 happen in the country under its watch."
The high court also directed the Delhi Police to take "conscious decision" with respect to the lodging of FIRs against hate speeches by three BJP leaders -- Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma -- in connection with the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
