Supreme Court Judge Urges CJI to Replace Rajasthan High Court Acting Chief Justice

Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta has written three letters to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant seeking the immediate transfer of Rajasthan High Court Acting Chief Justice (ACJ) Sanjeev Prakash Sharma. In letters dated August 2, August 10, and August 17, Justice Mehta alleged that Justice Sharma has misused his administrative powers and exhibited conduct unbecoming of a leader. Justice Sharma is scheduled to retire on September 26 and has held the position of ACJ for over 10 months.

Justice Mehta's allegations include the manipulation of case listings to favor rich litigants and the movement of cases to the ACJ's bench without justifiable cause. He further claimed that Justice Sharma used his position to secure permanent appointments in Lok Adalats for close associates, including a childhood friend and the spouses of two district judges. Additional claims include the humiliation of judicial officers to satisfy personal vendettas, the designation of favored advocates as seniors on a working day, and the planning of a multi storied guest house tower which Justice Mehta described as a waste of public money.

Justice Mehta stated that other judges in the Rajasthan High Court expressed concerns that they were frequently threatened with retributive action, such as transfers, by the ACJ. He noted that Justice Sharma allegedly claimed closeness with the CJI to facilitate this behavior. Justice Mehta urged the CJI to appoint a Chief Justice from another state to the Rajasthan High Court to prevent further damage to the institution.

Regarding Justice Sharma's career path, reports indicate he was a Rajasthan High Court judge in 2016 and served in the Patna and Punjab and Haryana High Courts. While a request for his repatriation to Rajasthan was declined by the Supreme Court Collegium in March 2023, a fresh collegium recommended his return in May 2025.