The Supreme Court Collegium has put forth Justice Sanjay K Agrawal of the Chhattisgarh High Court for the role of Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court. This recommendation, exclusively reported by Bar & Bench, marks a pivotal step in the judicial administration of Rajasthan. Justice Agrawal’s legal journey began with his elevation as an Additional Judge at the Chhattisgarh High Court in September 2013, followed by his confirmation as a permanent judge in March 2016. Prior to these judicial appointments, he served as the Advocate General of Chhattisgarh.
In a strategic move, the Collegium has suggested that Justice Agrawal be transferred immediately to the Rajasthan High Court even before formalizing his appointment as Chief Justice. This ensures that he can assume responsibilities as the senior-most judge, effectively addressing any delays in the appointment process.
This decision gains importance against the backdrop of the current situation involving the Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma. Allegations have surfaced, brought by Supreme Court Judge Justice Sandeep Mehta, regarding Justice Sharma’s administrative practices and the management of case listings. These allegations prompted Justice Mehta to urge Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, to consider Justice Sharma’s transfer to another jurisdiction and appoint a regular Chief Justice from a different High Court.
The controversy surrounding Justice Sharma has sparked protests by the legal fraternity in both Jaipur and Jodhpur. The lawyers have been vocal in their demand for Justice Sharma to step down from his role as Acting Chief Justice. In a noteworthy development, Justice Sharma has voluntarily stepped back from judicial duties. His freshly issued roster, covering September 1 to September 5, excludes him from any regular judicial sittings, redistributing his cases to other benches.
Upon his official appointment, Justice Sanjay K Agrawal will step in as the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, potentially bringing stability and clarity to the court’s leadership.
