Madhya Pradesh judge rejoins service after Chief Justice’s ‘intervention’ on harassment grievance

According to sources, a two-member committee formed by the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on August 11 assured Sharma that her concerns would be heard in a dignified manner and in accordance with the law.

Furthermore, the Madhya Pradesh Chief Justice Sajeev Sachdeva is also believed to have personally intervened, with sources claiming that this “unprecedented gesture” convinced Sharma to return as the Shahdol Civil judge (junior division) on August 20.

Sources said Sharma had made up her mind to not return after her resignation. A one-month window period is usually served in which the state government is informed about the resignation.

However, since the Chief Justice personally intervened, Sharma is believed to have reported back to work.

When contacted by The Indian Express, Sharma confirmed that she had rejoined but refused to comment.

Sharma had resigned from service after the judicial officer she had accused of harassment was recently made a judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

Her resignation came hours after the central government cleared the elevation of District Judge Rajesh Kumar Gupta to the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended Gupta’s elevation in early July 2025, the Centre cleared it on July 28 and he took oath as a judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on July 30.

In her resignation letter addressed to the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Sharma wrote: “With every ounce of my moral strength and emotional exhaustion, I hereby resign from judicial service not because I lost faith in justice, but because justice lost its way inside the very institution sworn to protect it”.

Justice Rajesh Kumar Gupta did not respond to requests for a comment.