Justice Atul Sreedharan was transferred on Friday (March 14, 2025) from the J&K and Ladakh High Court to the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
“In exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 222 of the Constitution of India, the President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to transfer Shri Justice Atul Sreedharan, Judge, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, as Judge of High Court of Madhya Pradesh and to direct him to assume charge of his office in the High Court of Madhya Pradesh,” reads the official communique.
Justice Sreedharan joined the J&K High Court on April 27, 2023 and took the Oath of Office on May 10, 2023. Born on May 24,1966, Justice Sreedharan was appointed as Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh on April 7th, 2016 and as a Permanent Judge on March 17, 2018.
Beginning his legal career in 1992 after completing his law degree, Justice Sreedharan had requested a transfer in early 2023 to avoid conflict of interest as his daughter began legal practice before the District Court and the Indore Bench of the High Court.
Justice Sreedharan, in a speech made earlier this month in J&K, underscored the critical role of legal aid in healthcare institutions, especially marginalized patients and their families. He advocated expanding legal outreach to all sections of society, particularly vulnerable groups.
In February, Justice Sreedharan reaffirmed the commitment of legal services institutions towards ensuring access to justice and upholding the constitutional rights of prisoners as Executive Chairman of the J&K Legal Services Authority.
Taking note of medical needs of jail inmates in Bhaderwah, Justice Sreedharan had directed the District Magistrate to explore the feasibility of providing e-consultations through tele-medicine services, particularly for addressing psychiatric and psychological concerns of the inmates. He also advised the District Administration to consider installation of a defibrillator within the jail dispensary to cater to cardiac emergencies.
Interacting with the jail inmates, Justice Sreedharan observed that judges only adjudicate the mistakes of an accused committed in law and not the sins committed by them. He also stressed on the importance of ensuring timely legal aid for inmates and strengthening rehabilitation measures within correctional facilities.
Published – March 14, 2025 08:01 pm IST