Supreme Court has amended regulations governing the transfer of criminal cases between judges.

Under the previous Rules of Criminal Procedure on Trial, a case could only be reassigned if a judge was indefinitely suspended, removed from office, or faced a conflict of interest requiring recusal.

The amendments, brought on Wednesday, expand those conditions. Cases may now be transferred if a judge is suspended for more than two months, takes extended leave, or is enrolled in a long-term programme.

The changes also allow reassignment where related cases involving the same incident or witnesses, are being heard by different judges or benches, as well as in instances where a case is handled by a judicial delegation.

Under the revised rules, the chief judge or chief magistrate of the relevant court will decide whether a case should be reassigned.