The incumbent Rajasthan High Court rejects the allegations and calls for patience

Acting Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court, Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma. Photo: rajasthan.nalsa.gov.in.

Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court Sanjeev Prakash Sharma has broken his silence on letters allegedly written by a Supreme Court judge, dismissing the allegations leveled against him as baseless and urging all concerned to “remain patient” until the Chief Justice of India (CJI) takes a decision.

Following this letter, the Supreme Court collegium recommended the transfer of Chhattisgarh High Court judge Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal to Rajasthan and his promotion as Chief Justice, replacing Justice Sharma, who is scheduled to retire on September 26.

“I would like to make it clear that I reject all the allegations. They are baseless and have been leveled by the Honorable Judge out of ranjish (grudge),” Justice Sharma said in a statement in Hindi issued here on Wednesday evening. Justice Sandeep Mehta of the Supreme Court sought his transfer, complaining about his conduct and alleging “abuse of power, favouritism, nepotism and administrative lapses”.

In his letters to the CJI, Justice Mehta alleged that Justice Sharma misused his powers as head of the list by selectively shifting cases to his own bench and favoring “wealthy and influential” litigants. He said the functioning and administrative decisions of the Supreme Court under Justice Sharma have raised serious questions about the institution.

Justice Sharma said he presented his version to CJI Surya Kant, rejecting with supporting evidence all the “baseless, false and factually incorrect” allegations contained in the letters written by Justice Mehta.

No official work

While Justice Sharma retired from judicial practice earlier this week, the lawyers’ association in the state went on strike till September 6 demanding that he be relieved of his judicial and administrative duties. On the bench of the Jaipur High Court, a section of lawyers sat in protest outside its courtroom and indulged in sloganeering on August 31.

The acting chief justice urged lawyers, journalists and all concerned to “respect the principles of justice and exercise patience till the CJI decides”. “I have full faith in the Indian judicial system. When the time is right, after receiving the nod from the CJI, I will myself appear before the media and present my side. Until then, please be patient,” Justice Sharma said.

Following reports of Justice Mehta’s communication to Justice Kant, the Chief Justice of India stated that the matter was being examined through the appropriate institutional mechanism and that Justice Sharma would be given an opportunity to respond before any conclusion was reached.

Published – 03 Sep 2026 22:28 IST