High Court of Manipur orders major reshuffle of Judicial Officers across the State

In a major administrative move to improve the efficiency of the state’s judicial system, the High Court of Manipur has issued a comprehensive transfer and posting order affecting a large number of officers in the Manipur Judicial Service (MJS). The order, dated June 20, 2025, comes in the wake of the promotion of four MJS Grade-II officers to Grade-I and seven Grade-III officers to Grade-II.
Invoking powers under Article 235 of the Constitution of India, the High Court has realigned judicial postings across the state’s districts to streamline court administration and ensure optimal deployment of human resources. The reshuffle impacts officers across all tiers, including District and Sessions Judges, Chief Judicial Magistrates (CJMs), Civil Judges (Senior and Junior Divisions), Judicial Magistrates First Class (JMFCs), and Registrars.
As per the transfer order signed by Registrar General Ojesh Mutum, Lamkholal Kipgen will now serve as District and Sessions Judge, Senapati, while Janggoulen Haokip, following his promotion, takes charge as Additional District and Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court), Manipur West. Smt. Ashem Tarunakumari Devi has been appointed Additional Sessions Judge (FTC), CAW, Manipur.
Other notable appointments include K. Nirojit as Secretary of the High Court Legal Services Committee with additional charge as Registrar (Translation Wing), and Smt. Masana Evangeline Panmei as Special Judge (NDPS) (FTC), Manipur. Bineshwori Maibam has been posted as CJM-cum-Civil Judge (Sr. Division), Bishnupur, with added responsibility as Secretary, DLSA Bishnupur.
Dr. Laishram Rina Devi, formerly CJM of Thoubal, has been posted as Civil Judge (Sr. Division), Imphal West.  Sarungbam Mangaleibi Devi assumes charge as Joint Registrar (Judicial), High Court of Manipur, along with additional responsibility of CRP-cum-SCMS. Her previous role as Deputy Member Secretary of MASLSA has been handed over to Fakhrul Islam Choudhury.
The reshuffle also affects JMFCs and Civil Judges (Junior Division). Officers like Smt. Ningombam Sofiarani Devi, Smt. Kshetrimayum Maheta Devi, Leonid Ahanthem, and others have been reassigned to various districts with additional duties in their respective legal service authorities. Officers posted at CJM positions in Imphal East, Thoubal, Churachandpur, and Tamenglong are also among those transferred.
The order includes a clear timeline for the transition process, with Ms. Nemkholam Lhungdim designated as the first officer to take charge. All affected officers are instructed to complete the handing and taking over of responsibilities by or before July 7, 2025.
Additionally, the High Court has clarified that all Judicial Magistrates First Class will continue to function as Principal Magistrates of the respective Juvenile Justice Boards, in accordance with a prior government notification issued in August 2023.