On 5-3-2026, the President in exercise of power conferred by Article 217(1) of the Constitution, appointed Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari, as the Chief Justice of Madras High Court. Justice Dharmadhikari is currently serving as Judge of Kerala High Court.
On 26-2-2026, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the appointment of Justice Dharmadhikari, (Parent High Court: Madhya Pradesh), as the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, consequent upon the retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice on 5-3-2026.
Born to late Arvind H. Dharmadhikari and late Shubha Dharmadhikari on 8-7-1966 at Raipur, Justice S.A. Dharmadhikari obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce and Law from Nagpur University. He enrolled as an Advocate in Madhya Pradesh High Court at Jabalpur in 1992.
Justice Dharmadhikari was the Standing Counsel for Union of India from 2000 till 2015 and of the Income Tax Department and Reserve Bank of India. He performed the duties of Senior Standing Counsel for Central Excise, District Central Co-operative Bank, Hoshangabad, and various Public Sector Undertakings, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, BSNL, Welfare Commissioner, Bhopal Gas Victims.
His judicial journey began with his appointment as Additional Judge of High Court of Madhya Pradesh on 07-04-2016 and as a Permanent Judge on 17-03-2018. He was subsequently transferred to High Court of Kerala and took oath as Judge on 23-04-20251.
1. https://kollam.dcourts.gov.in/Judges/justice-sushrut-arvind-dharmadhikari/