New Delhi, Aug 26 — Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta has urged Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Surya Kant to appoint a regular Chief Justice from another High Court to head the Rajasthan High Court, while raising a series of allegations against its Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma.

In three letters dated August 2, August 10 and August 17, Justice Mehta called for immediate replacement of Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma over alleged misuse of administrative powers, manipulation of case listings and favouritism towards certain lawyers and parties, reported a leading law portal Live Law.

Justice Mehta, who was elevated to the Supreme Court from the Rajasthan High Court, is learnt to have repeatedly sought CJI’s nod for appointment of a new Chief Justice from another State, warning that continued failure to do so was “wholly against the interest of the Institution”.

“I have been repeatedly requesting you to take a decision for appointing a Chief Justice from another State to Rajasthan High Court so that this unfortunate situation can be prevented. Continued ignorance of the request is, in my opinion, is wholly against the interest of the institution,” Justice Mehta said in one of the communications.

In his August 2 letter, Justice Mehta referred to his visits to Rajasthan and claimed that “numerous Judges of Rajasthan High Court” had met him and expressed anguish over the alleged conduct of Justice Sharma. He alleged that Justice Sharma frequently threatened his fellow judges with retributive action, including transfer, while claiming closeness with the CJI.

Justice Mehta also criticised the Acting Chief Justice's handling of judicial and administrative affairs, alleging that his conduct demonstrated a “total lack of leadership qualities”.

In the August 10 letter, Justice Mehta referred to several instances of alleged favouritism towards particular lawyers and parties and questioned Justice Sharma's exercise of roster and administrative powers. The letter also purportedly referred to an order passed in a criminal matter and alleged that the manner in which the case was dealt with indicated favour towards particular parties. Justice Mehta said the instances, taken together, suggested “misuse of powers by the Acting Chief Justice”.

In his August 17 letter, Justice Mehta said he had already brought to the CJI's notice the alleged “gross maladministration” and “seriously questionable activities” of Justice Sharma and questioned why he was being allowed to continue as Acting Chief Justice.

The letter also referred to a communication from a serving Rajasthan High Court judge concerning alleged “vindictive actions” by Justice Sharma against the judge's wife, who is a senior officer in the district judiciary.

“It is a matter of grave concern that in spite of such vindictive approach, Mr. Justice S.P. Sharma is still continuing at the helm of affairs in the High Court,” Justice Mehta wrote.

The communications also formed part of a broader set of allegations contained in a separate complaint dated July 25, 2026, submitted by advocate Pooja Tripathi to Supreme Court judge Justice Vikram Nath and copied to Justice Mehta and others.

The complaint alleged misuse of official position in appointments to Permanent Lok Adalats in Jaipur and Ajmer and referred to alleged familial or close personal connections involving some of the persons appointed. Among the allegations was that a mediator appointed for Jaipur Metro No. 1 was a childhood friend of Justice Sharma and the father-in-law of his daughter. The complaint also alleged that other appointments involved relatives or associates of persons connected with the Acting Chief Justice.

The complaint had further alleged that Justice Sharma had forwarded the names of four women advocates for elevation to the High Court and claimed that they were not in active practice and were linked to senior lawyers or retired judges close to him.

Justice Mehta, in his communication, urged the Supreme Court Collegium to act at the earliest and transfer Justice Sharma out of Rajasthan.

“It is thus my earnest request that the Supreme Court Collegium should meet at the earliest and ensure that a regular Chief Justice is appointed in the Rajasthan High Court and Mr. Justice S.P. Sharma is forthwith transferred out of the State looking to his unbecoming conduct,” he wrote.

Copies of Justice Mehta's letters were also forwarded to other members of the Supreme Court Collegium as well as the President of India, according to media reports.

Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma was appointed as a Judge of the Rajasthan High Court in November 2016 and later served at the Patna High Court following his transfer. He returned to the Rajasthan High Court and was appointed Acting Chief Justice with effect from September 28, 2025.

Justice Sharma is due to retire on September 26, 2026, according to available judicial records, making the request for appointment of a regular Chief Justice particularly significant in the context of the allegations raised by Justice Mehta.

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