Is it necessary for the circuit court to transfer criminal complaints to the provincial high court for the lower courts?

No need. According to the legal procedure of asking China, if the circuit court thinks that the criminal complaint needs to be tried by the provincial higher people's court, it will directly transfer the complaint to the provincial higher people's court instead of the lower court. The circuit court has specific powers and responsibilities, and has the right to directly transfer the case to the corresponding superior court for handling.