The Central Government has officially approved the appointment of Justice Sanjay Kumar Agrawal as the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court. This decision was announced on Saturday, marking a significant transition in the judiciary of Rajasthan.
Justice Agrawal, who is presently serving as the Acting Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. His judicial career saw him first appointed as an additional judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court in September 2013, and he was elevated to a permanent judge in March 2016.
This appointment arrives in the midst of a contentious situation surrounding the current Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma. Allegations regarding Justice Sharma’s administration of judicial responsibilities have been a point of concern. Supreme Court Justice Sandeep Mehta recently addressed these issues in a letter to the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant. Justice Mehta advocated for Justice Sharma’s reassignment and the introduction of a permanent Chief Justice from another jurisdiction.
The allegations against Justice Sharma include concerns about his administrative authority and the scheduling of cases, leading to unrest within the legal community. These issues have sparked protests by lawyers at the Jaipur and Jodhpur benches of the Rajasthan High Court, with demands that Justice Sharma be relieved of his duties as Acting Chief Justice.
Despite the controversy, Justice Sharma has refuted the claims made against him. Notably, Justice Sharma is approaching retirement, with his departure anticipated later this month. The appointment of Justice Agrawal is seen as a positive step towards stabilizing the administration of the Rajasthan High Court.
