‘Hit sixes’ before retirement’: SC judge seeks Rajasthan HC Acting CJ’s removal

Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta has urged the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, to appoint a Chief Justice from another state to head the Rajasthan High Court. He claims that the current acting Chief Justice, Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, has been abusing his administrative powers and manipulating case listings to favor wealthy litigants.

In three letters to the CJI over the past few weeks, Justice Mehta accuses Sharma of engaging in maladministration, malpractices, nepotism, and favoritism. He alleges that Sharma has been using his power as the master of the roster to move cases to his bench arbitrarily. Mehta cites specific instances, including the sudden withdrawal of cases from other benches and their transfer to Sharma's court without justification, as well as the registration of a mining magnate's case as a special appeal to favor his daughter-in-law's potential appointment as a judge.

The judge also highlights Sharma's alleged interference in the administration of the Jodhpur District Court (Metro) building, which was completed a year ago, and claims that Sharma unilaterally halted its inauguration and made wholesale changes to the infrastructure. Additionally, Mehta criticizes the high court administration's handling of an international conference in Jaipur, where many judges were nominated, leaving the Jodhpur principal seat without a single functional court for two days.

He also points out the designation of 96 advocates as senior advocates without proper discussion or criteria.