SC Collegium Permits Transfer Of 2 Judges From Patna And Madhya Pradesh HC On Personal Requests

The Supreme Court Collegium recently approved the transfer of two High Court judges.

The two High Court judges are Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma of the Patna High Court and Justice Atul Sreedharan of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

According to the Collegium’s resolutions, Justice Sharma, whose parent High Court is the Rajasthan High Court, informally requested to be repatriated due to health reasons.

In Patna, where he is currently a High Court judge, Justice Prakash highlighted a lack of medical services.

If repatriation is not possible, he has requested a transfer to the Punjab & Haryana High Court, as Chandigarh has the requisite medical facilities.

The latter has been permitted by the Collegium. According to the resolution,

“The Collegium resolves that it is not possible to repatriate Mr Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma to his parent High Court. Bearing in mind the health reasons which have led the Judge to seek a transfer out of the High Court where he is posted at present, the Collegium resolves that Shri Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma be transferred, to the High Court of Punjab and Haryana.”

Justice Sreedharan, a judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, wrote to the Collegium requesting a transfer out of the state because his elder daughter is about to begin law practice in the same high court next year.

The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended that he be transferred to the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court “in the interest of better administration of justice.”

“Mr Justice Atul Sreedharan was appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh on 07 April 2016. By his communication dated 23 January 2023, he has sought a transfer out of the State of Madhya Pradesh on the ground that his elder daughter would enter practice next year and would be appearing before the District Court and the Indore Bench of the High Court. Mr. Justice Atul Sreedharan has stated that he does not desire to continue in the High Court of Madhya Pradesh when his daughter enters practice,” the resolution stated.