The Ministry of Law and Justice on Thursday issued official notifications announcing the transfer of seven Judges across various High Courts in India, following the approval of the President of India under Article 222(1) of the Constitution. The transfers were carried out after due consultation with the Chief Justice of India.
According to the notification published on the Ministry’s website on May 1, 2025, the following transfers have been effected:
- Justice Hemant Chandangoudar, presently serving at the Karnataka High Court, has been transferred to the Madras High Court.
- Justice N.S.S. Gowda, also from the Karnataka High Court, will now serve at the Gujarat High Court.
- Justice Krishnan Natarajan, from the Karnataka High Court, has been posted to the Kerala High Court.
- Justice Dixit Krishna Shripad, currently a Judge at the Karnataka High Court, has been transferred to the Orissa High Court.
In addition to these Karnataka Judges, the notification also covers three other transfers:
- Justice K. Manmadha Rao, of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, has been moved to the Karnataka High Court.
- Justice P. Sree Sudha, serving at the Telangana High Court, has also been transferred to the Karnataka High Court.
- Justice Kasoju Surendhar alias K. Surender, currently with the Telangana High Court, has been shifted to the Madras High Court.
These transfers were initiated based on the recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium in its meetings held on April 15 and April 19, 2025. The Collegium, which is chaired by the Chief Justice of India, periodically reviews the functioning and administrative needs of High Courts across the country and proposes transfers in the interest of judicial efficiency and balanced allocation of judicial resources.
The decision reflects the judiciary’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the delivery of justice by ensuring optimal utilisation of judicial talent across jurisdictions.
The Ministry’s notifications have now formalised these appointments, and the transferred Judges are expected to assume their new charges in the respective High Courts shortly.
