Following court clearance, the controversial film 'The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond' was released this Saturday, marking the end of a high-stakes legal battle. Alongside the movie controversy, the elevation of Kerala High Court judge Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari—who presided over the case on Friday—drew significant attention.
Justice Dharmadhikari has been appointed the new Chief Justice of the Madras High Court and will officially assume the role on March 6.
He served on the division bench that reviewed an appeal against a single judge's interim order, which had suspended the release of 'The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond' for 15 days.
Justice Dharmadhikari and P.V. Balakrishnan reserved the single bench's decision on Thursday.
The Bench observed that the plea opposing the film's certification was in the nature of a public interest litigation and questioned how a single bench could hear it.
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas stayed the release, saying that prima facie there was a manifest non-application of mind to the requirement of law by the censor board, CBFC.
The possibility of "communal disharmony or denigration of a community also being prima facie involved in the movie" was cited to stay the release of the film.
Who is Justice Dharmadhikari?
Born to Arvind H Dharmadhikari and Shubha Dharmadhikari in 1966 at Raipur, his judicial tenure is defined by a blend of administrative leadership, courtroom rigour, and landmark public interest litigation. His diverse portfolio spans from complex tax disputes to fundamental constitutional questions, reflecting a career-long commitment to procedural discipline and judicial efficiency.
Before being elevated to the Kerala High Court, Dharmadhikari had been linked to dealing with the Bhopal Gas Tragedy case.
His commitment to the Bhopal Gas Tragedy victims spans his entire career. He began as counsel for the Welfare Commissioner, and decades later, as a judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, he assumed the role of Welfare Commissioner himself. In this capacity, he became a vocal advocate for survivors, frequently condemning the systemic delays that stalled essential compensation and medical relief.
He has also represented the Income Tax Department and the Reserve Bank of India.
Justice Dharmadhikarihas a bachelor's degree in commerce and law from Nagpur University. He was first enrolled as an advocate in the High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur in 1992.
He took an oath as a judge in the Kerala High Court in April last year.