NewKerala.com

Justice Sushrut Dharmadhikari Appointed as New Madras High Court Chief Justice

The Central government has appointed Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari as the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court. The appointment follows a recommendation by the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. Justice Dharmadhikari, whose parent High Court is Madhya Pradesh, was serving as a judge in the Kerala High Court prior to this elevation. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava.

Key Points: Justice Sushrut Dharmadhikari Appointed Madras HC Chief Justice

  • Appointment follows SC Collegium recommendation
  • Justice Dharmadhikari transferred from Kerala HC
  • Incumbent CJ Manindra Shrivastava retired
  • Collegium headed by CJI Surya Kant
2 min read

Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari appointed as Madras High Court Chief Justice

Centre appoints Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari as Chief Justice of the Madras High Court following Supreme Court Collegium recommendation.

"The President... is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari... to be the Chief Justice of the High Court of Madras - Arjun Ram Meghwal"

New Delhi, Mar 5

The Centre on Thursday cleared the appointment of Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari as the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, following the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium.

"In exercise of the power conferred by the Constitution of India, the President of India, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari, Judge of the High Court of Kerala, to be the Chief Justice of the High Court of Madras with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office," Union Minister of State (I/C) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal said in a post on X.

The apex court Collegium, headed by CJI Surya Kant, in its meeting held on February 26, had recommended the appointment of Justice Dharmadhikari, whose parent High Court is Madhya Pradesh and who is currently serving as a judge of the Kerala High Court, as Chief Justice of the Madras High Court following the retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava on March 5.

Born on July 9, 1966, at Raipur, Justice Dharmadhikari was appointed as an additional judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in April 2016 and took oath as a permanent judge on March 17, 2018.

Before his elevation to the bench, he practised in civil, criminal, and constitutional branches of law as an advocate for 24 years in the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

Justice Dharmadhikari was transferred to the Kerala High Court from the Madhya Pradesh High Court last year.

In April 2025, the Union Ministry of Law and Justice issued a notification stating that the President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI), had approved his transfer under Article 222 of the Constitution.

"The Supreme Court Collegium in its meetings held on 20th March 2025, 24th March 2025 and 03rd April 2025, has recommended transfer of Mr Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari, Judge, High Court of Madhya Pradesh, to the High Court of Kerala," a statement uploaded on the website of the apex court had said.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good to see the appointment process moving smoothly. Justice Dharmadhikari's transfer to Kerala last year and now to Madras shows the system is working to get the right experience in the right place. Hope he brings efficiency to the Madras HC.
A
Arjun K
While I respect the collegium's decision, I do hope there is more transparency in these appointments. The public deserves to know more about the criteria beyond just years of service. A small criticism, but an important one for our democracy.
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see a judge from the Hindi heartland (MP) serving in South India. This kind of cross-regional exposure is healthy for our judiciary. He must have a sharp legal mind to adapt so quickly to different high courts.
V
Vikram M
24 years as an advocate! That's real ground-level experience. Judges who have actually practiced for long periods often have a better understanding of the common man's legal struggles. Good appointment.
K
Kavya N
The Madras High Court is one of our oldest and most respected. It's a big responsibility. I hope Justice Dharmadhikari prioritizes clearing the massive backlog of cases. Justice delayed is justice denied, after all.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50