Centre Requests: Supreme Court Admits It Changed Decision on Judge Transfer
In an unprecedented move, the Supreme Court Collegium has publicly acknowledged altering its earlier decision regarding the transfer of Justice Atul Sreedharan. Initially, on August 25, 2025, the Collegium recommended transferring Justice Sreedharan from the Madhya Pradesh High Court to the Chhattisgarh High Court. However, following a reconsideration sought by the Central Government, the Collegium reversed its decision on October 14, 2025, and recommended his transfer to the Allahabad High Court instead. (India Today)
This acknowledgment marks a rare instance where the Collegium has publicly stated that its decision was influenced by the government’s request. Justice Sreedharan, appointed to the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 2016, had previously sought a transfer to the Jammu & Kashmir & Ladakh High Court in 2023 to avoid potential conflicts of interest due to his daughter’s legal practice in Madhya Pradesh. (indianmasterminds.com)
The Centre’s request for reconsideration and the Collegium’s subsequent reversal have sparked discussions about the balance of power between the judiciary and the executive in judicial appointments and transfers. While such reversals are uncommon, they underscore the dynamic interplay between the two branches of government in shaping the judicial landscape.
This development is part of a broader context of judicial transfers and appointments. For instance, on October 14, 2025, the Union Government approved the transfer of three judges to the Andhra Pradesh High Court, following recommendations by the Supreme Court Collegium. These transfers aim to address the distribution of judicial workload and ensure efficient functioning of the courts. (The Times of India)
As the legal community observes these developments, the evolving relationship between the judiciary and the executive continues to be a subject of significant interest and scrutiny.
