Supreme Court judge seeks transfer of Rajasthan High Court acting Chief Justice, CJI says allegations can’t be treated as a finding

Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta has repeatedly written to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant requesting the transfer of Rajasthan High Court Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma over serious allegations of favouritism, nepotism, and administrative irregularities. Addressing the issue, CJI Surya Kant clarified that allegations against a sitting judge cannot be treated as established findings and must be evaluated strictly through established institutional mechanisms rather than public or media debate.

In an official press statement issued by the Supreme Court while CJI Surya Kant was on an international tour, the top court stated that any decision concerning administrative action, continuation, or transfer of the acting chief justice would be taken by the competent institutional authority. The statement highlighted that the judge concerned must receive a fair opportunity to respond before any conclusion is reached, emphasizing that individual complaints cannot be settled through competing media claims.

The controversy stems from three letters written by Justice Mehta to the Chief Justice of India during August. In these communications, Justice Mehta outlined what he described as a grim scenario within his parent High Court in Rajasthan. He alleged widespread maladministration on both the judicial and administrative sides, specifically citing instances where cases were suddenly withdrawn and reassigned to the bench of Acting Chief Justice Sharma without justifiable cause.

Justice Mehta further alleged that judicial officers in Rajasthan were subjected to humiliation and threatened with retributive transfers. His letters highlighted concerns over the designation of a large number of favoured advocates as seniors during a working day full-court meeting, as well as an expensive plan for a multi-storied guest house tower that he characterized as a waste of public funds.

In his correspondence, Justice Mehta questioned why his repeated requests to appoint a regular Chief Justice to the Rajasthan High Court from another state had been ignored. He warned that allowing the current situation to persist was damaging to the judiciary's reputation, especially given that Acting Chief Justice Sharma is scheduled to retire on September 26.

Acting Chief Justice Sharma previously served in the Patna High Court and the Punjab and Haryana High Court before being recommended for repatriation to the Rajasthan High Court by the Supreme Court Collegium in May 2025. He was appointed as Acting Chief Justice in September of last year and has served in the position for over ten months.

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