Supreme Court Judge Calls for Replacement of Rajasthan HC Acting Chief Justice Over Misuse of Power

In a significant development in India’s judiciary, a Supreme Court judge has raised serious allegations against Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma of the Rajasthan High Court, accusing him of misusing his administrative authority. Justice Sandeep Mehta has formally written to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, urging immediate action to replace Sharma, whose retirement is slated for next month.

According to reports from Bar and Bench, Justice Mehta claims that Sharma has manipulated the listing of cases in a manner that favors affluent litigants. Furthermore, Mehta alleges that Sharma has exploited his position to appoint individuals close to him into key administrative roles, raising concerns about the integrity of the judicial process in Rajasthan.

Sharma was appointed as a judge of the Rajasthan High Court in November 2016 and was later transferred to the Patna High Court in 2022. His request to return to Rajasthan due to health issues was denied by the collegium, then led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, in March 2023. Instead, Sharma was redirected to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Interestingly, a subsequent collegium in May 2025 recommended his return to Rajasthan, leading to his current position as the acting chief justice.

Justice Mehta’s letters indicate that Sharma has been in this acting role for over ten months, during which time he has allegedly engaged in practices that compromise the judicial system’s credibility. Mehta has also mentioned that several judges from the Rajasthan High Court have approached him during his visits, expressing their concerns regarding Sharma’s conduct and its impact on the functioning of the court.

The allegations against Sharma come at a critical time, as discussions around judicial accountability and transparency have gained momentum in India. The Supreme Court’s response to these serious claims will be closely watched, not just by legal circles but by the public at large, as it could set precedents for similar issues in the future. As the matter unfolds, the integrity of the judiciary remains a focal point of national discourse.

Source: scroll.in