Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari has been officially transferred from the Madhya Pradesh High Court to the Kerala High Court by the Central government, following the Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendation.
NEW DELHI: The Central government has officially approved the transfer of Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari from the Madhya Pradesh High Court to the Kerala High Court, following the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium.
The Collegium, comprising senior judges of the Supreme Court, had suggested Justice Dharmadhikari’s transfer in a resolution dated April 7, 2025. This recommendation came after a series of meetings held on March 20, March 24, and April 3.
Justice Dharmadhikari, born on July 8, 1966, in Raipur, brings with him over three decades of legal experience. He began his legal practice in 1992 and has had an extensive career at the Madhya Pradesh High Court, spanning more than 24 years. During this time, he built a diverse legal practice, handling matters related to civil, criminal, and constitutional law.
From 2000 to 2015, Justice Dharmadhikari served as Standing Counsel for the Union of India. In this capacity, he represented several key government departments and agencies, including the Income Tax Department, the Reserve Bank of India, and the Central Excise Department, where he served as Senior Standing Counsel. He also represented a number of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), further adding to his credentials in public law.
He was elevated to the bench as an Additional Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on April 7, 2016. He was later confirmed as a permanent judge on March 17, 2018.
With his transfer to the Kerala High Court, Justice Dharmadhikari joins a judicial institution currently operating with 44 judges against its sanctioned strength of 47. His extensive legal and judicial experience is expected to further strengthen the court’s functioning.
This transfer is part of the broader exercise undertaken by the Supreme Court Collegium to promote efficiency and balance in the allocation of judicial resources across High Courts in the country.
LANDMARK JUDGEMENTS
- Subhash vs. The State of Madhya Pradesh (Decided on April 2, 2025): Justice Dharmadhikari addressed procedural nuances in criminal law by hearing an application to convert a criminal appeal into a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC.
- Virendra Rathore and Ors. vs. Tehsildar Distt. Mandsaur and Ors. (Decided on May 31, 2024): The court clarified that provisions under Chapter III-B of the RBI Act do not apply to Housing Finance Institutions established under Section 29A of the NHB Act, affecting the interpretation of notifications under the SARFAESI Act.
- Vishal Maheshwari and Ors. vs. The State of Madhya Pradesh and Ors. (Decided on September 20, 2024): Justice Dharmadhikari held that parallel proceedings for the same grievance cannot continue when a statutory remedy is already being pursued under the SARFAESI Act.
- Kamal Singh vs. The State of Madhya Pradesh and Ors. (Decided on September 12, 2024): This case dealt with issues related to administrative decisions and their compliance with legal standards.
- Shailendra Singh Sikarwar and Anr. vs. The State of Madhya Pradesh and Ors. (Decided on August 16, 2024): The judgment addressed matters concerning public service and the legal obligations of state authorities.
- NSA Detention Case :
Justice Dharmadhikari, with Justice Gajendra Singh, upheld the NSA detention of a habitual offender, holding that acquittals in some cases don’t invalidate preventive detention when the individual’s conduct threatens public order.
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