Supreme Court Justice Sandeep Mehta has formally requested Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant to urgently appoint a Chief Justice from another state to oversee the Rajasthan High Court. This appeal, conveyed through letters dated August 2, August 10, and August 17, 2026, and exclusively obtained by Bar & Bench, accuses Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma of manipulating case listings to benefit affluent litigants and misusing his administrative authority as he approaches retirement next month.
Justice Sharma’s judicial journey began with his appointment to the Rajasthan High Court in November 2016. He was later transferred to the Patna High Court in 2022. His request for repatriation on health grounds was denied by the Collegium, led by then Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, in March 2023. Instead, he was transferred to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. In May 2025, a new Collegium resolution recommended his return to Rajasthan, where he assumed the role of Acting Chief Justice—a position he has reportedly held for over ten months, as noted in Justice Mehta’s letter.
Allegations Against Justice Sharma
Justice Mehta, in his initial letter dated August 2, highlighted feedback from various Rajasthan High Court judges who expressed concerns about Justice Sharma’s conduct. It was alleged that Justice Sharma frequently threatened colleagues with retributive actions, including transfers, by claiming influence with the Chief Justice of India.
Justice Mehta’s letters drew parallels with a recent Supreme Court observation by a bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. They had noted a troubling trend of judges issuing orders for extraneous reasons near their retirement, likening it to cricketers trying to “hit sixes.” Justice Mehta applied this analogy to Justice Sharma, suggesting he has been attempting to “hit sixes” since becoming the Acting Chief Justice.
Specific Incidents Cited
The letters reference two division bench orders from the Rajasthan High Court. In a series of appeals concerning “priceless lands” in Udaipur, the cases were listed before Justice Sharma’s bench in Jaipur, despite his earlier ruling that such matters should not be moved there.
The August 17 letter further alleges misconduct involving Justice Uma Shankar Vyas, a sitting judge of the Rajasthan High Court. Justice Vyas reportedly claimed that Justice Sharma delayed the inauguration of a new Jodhpur court building out of personal vendetta, causing considerable institutional setback.
Additionally, Advocate Pooja Tripathi submitted a separate complaint to Supreme Court Justice Vikram Nath, also copied to Justice Mehta and others. The complaint accused Justice Sharma of securing Lok Adalat appointments for acquaintances, including a childhood friend and the spouses of district judges, and recommending four women advocates for High Court elevation, none of whom are actively practicing but are allegedly connected to senior lawyers or retired judges close to him.
Justice Mehta’s Call for Action
Justice Mehta’s letters emphasize ongoing efforts to confirm Justice Sharma as the Chief Justice in Rajasthan, despite what he describes as “damning evidence.” He urged the Collegium to promptly transfer Justice Sharma out of Rajasthan to protect the institution’s integrity.
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In his final letter to the CJI, Justice Mehta expressed frustration over the delay in addressing his requests, stating that ignoring them is detrimental to the institution’s interests. Justice Mehta’s judicial career includes elevation to the Rajasthan High Court on May 30, 2011, a transfer as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court in February 2023, and subsequent elevation to the Supreme Court on November 9, 2023.
