SC collegium recommends replacing Rajasthan HC acting chief justice amid misuse of power allegations

The Supreme Court collegium on Monday recommended the appointment of Justice Sanjay K Agrawal as the chief justice of the Rajasthan High Court, the Hindustan Times reported.

Agrawal is currently a judge in the Chhattisgarh High Court. The collegium consisted of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Vikram Nath and BV Nagarathna.

The recommendation came amid allegations of misuse of administrative power against Rajasthan High Court Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma who is due to retire on September 26.

Sharma on Monday decided to opt out of hearing cases following protests by lawyers against him, Bar and Bench reported.

In letters sent to Kant in August, Supreme Court Justice Sandeep Mehta alleged that Sharma manipulated the listing of cases to favour rich litigants and used his position to appoint persons close to him in administrative posts. Mehta had sought that the acting chief justice be replaced “with immediate effect”.

As per the new roster prepared by Sharma, no bench has been constituted with him as a member, and no regular judicial sittings have been assigned to him between Tuesday and Saturday, Bar and Bench reported. The new roster also assigns cases previously handled by him to other benches.

Earlier on Monday, the Rajasthan High Court Lawyers Association announced a strike until September 6, seeking Sharma’s removal as the acting chief justice...

Read more