In a move aligning with the Supreme Court Collegium’s March 27 recommendation, the Centre has cleared the transfer of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma from the Delhi High Court to the Calcutta High Court.
Justice Sharma, who began his judicial career in 1992, has held prominent positions, including Registrar General of the Delhi High Court and Principal District & Sessions Judge, New Delhi. A Fellow of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute, he has also been involved in training mediators under the Supreme Court’s Mediation Project. His elevation to the Delhi High Court came on February 28, 2022.
However, his transfer has not been without controversy. Leading legal bodies at the Calcutta High Court, including the Incorporated Law Society, Bar Library Club, and High Court Bar Association, formally objected to the decision. In a representation to Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, they urged reconsideration, expressing concerns over the judge’s alleged “questionable image” and brief tenure.
The letter suggested that the transfer might not be part of routine judicial administration but instead linked to unaddressed allegations against Justice Sharma dating back to October 2024. Despite the protest, the transfer proceeds as the Calcutta High Court continues to operate with a significant shortfall—28 vacancies out of a sanctioned strength of 72.
