New Delhi: On 28 October 2025, three new judges were sworn into the Delhi High Court: Dinesh Mehta, Avneesh Jhingan and Chandrasekharan Sudha (often referred to as C.S. Sudha).
The appointments follow a transfer notification dated 14 October 2025 issued by the Centre.
After swearing-in, Delhi High Court’s judicial strength rose to 44 judges (out of a sanctioned strength of 60).
These judicial transfers come amid a broader pattern of frequent shifts in judge postings across India, raising concerns within the legal community about local representation and court continuity.
Key Details of the Delhi High Court Transfers
Justices Mehta and Jhingan have been transferred from the Rajasthan High Court, while Justice Sudha has moved from the Kerala High Court to Delhi.
The oath of office was administered by Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court.
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The transfers were recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium and notified by the Union Ministry of Law & Justice.
Profiles of the Judges
Justice Dinesh Mehta
- Enrolled as an advocate in 1992, coming from the Rajasthan High Court.
- Handled diverse legal domains such as taxation, arbitration, banking, company, environment, insurance, agrarian and municipal laws.
- The Rajasthan High Court, on his part, described him as “a model of judicial transparency,” noting he had decided approximately 72,819 cases.
Justice Avneesh Jhingan
- Enrolled in 1992 with the Punjab & Haryana Bar Council; started a career in civil and tax matters.
- Was Additional Judge of Punjab & Haryana High Court in 2017, then transferred to Rajasthan HC in 2023 before coming to Delhi.
- Known for his precision, discipline and devotion to judicial duty; delivered around 4,127 judgments.
- Notably, in 2021 he advocated for “safe houses” for couples marrying against family wishes while serving in Punjab/Haryana.
Justice C.S. Sudha (Chandrasekharan Sudha)
- Began as advocate in 1989 in Thiruvananthapuram; worked her way up through judicial service after topping Kerala Judicial Service exam.
- Served as Munsiff-Magistrate, Assistant Sessions Judge, Registrar in national tribunals (Cyber Appellate Tribunal, Competition Appellate Tribunal, NCLAT) and later as District Sessions Judge.
- Appointed Additional Judge of Kerala High Court in 2021 and Permanent Judge in 2023, before transfer to Delhi HC in 2025.
Importance of This Transfer
The induction of these three judges strengthens the Delhi High Court’s bench at a critical time when judicial workload is high and vacancies remain. With the bench size at 44 out of a possible 60, the additional appointments are welcome.
However, the broader trend of frequent transfers has raised concern within the bar. Senior advocates at the Delhi High Court have questioned whether large-scale transfers could impact institutional continuity and local representation.
Further, transfers across states bring varied regional legal perspectives into the national capital’s judicial ecosystem — this could widen viewpoints, but may also require adjustment to new procedural and local legal cultures.
Implications and Outlook
For litigants and practitioners in Delhi: The addition of three experienced judges may ease backlog pressure, bring fresh judicial insight, and bolster bench capacity.
For legal fraternity: These moves reaffirm the role of the Supreme Court Collegium and Law Ministry in shaping judicial composition; transparency in transfer processes remains a key demand.
For judicial policy watchers: Continued close-watch will be on how transfers impact capacity, diversity, regional balance and institutional memory across high courts.
