1 week ago
Former Rajasthan acting CJ answers Supreme Court judge's allegations
Former Rajasthan High Court acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma has responded to allegations made by Supreme Court Justice Sandeep Mehta.
Mehta had said Sharma misused his powers and that complaints raised questions about his integrity.
Sharma denied all the allegations.
He said Mehta should not have interfered in the affairs of a High Court.
Sharma also said the accusations might have come from professional jealousy.
He rejected claims that he helped powerful litigants or changed court assignments unfairly.
He said lawyers’ protests were influenced by the allegations.
The Supreme Court Collegium later recommended Sanjay K Agarwal to become Rajasthan High Court’s Chief Justice.
Justice (retd) Sanjeev Prakash Sharma denied allegations of misconduct made by Justice Sandeep Mehta.
Sharma said the allegations may reflect professional jealousy and questioned Mehta’s intervention in High Court affairs.
Justice Mehta had accused Sharma of misusing powers, raising integrity concerns and sought his transfer.
Sharma denied favouring litigants, manipulating rosters, interfering in inquiries or selectively transferring judicial officers.
The Supreme Court Collegium later recommended Justice Sanjay K Agarwal as Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice.
- Who
- Justice (retd) Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Supreme Court Justice Sandeep Mehta are central to the dispute.
- What
- Sharma has denied Mehta’s allegations of misuse of powers, questionable integrity and administrative misconduct.
- Where
- The dispute concerns the Rajasthan High Court and its administration.
- When
- The allegations were made in letters sent in August; Sharma retired the week before the interview.
- Why
- Mehta sought Sharma’s transfer and a new Chief Justice, while Sharma said the allegations may have resulted from professional jealousy.
Justice Sharma’s response
Justice Mehta’s allegations
Administrative conduct
Justice Sharma’s response
Sharma denied misusing powers, favouring influential litigants, manipulating rosters or transferring judicial officers for improper reasons.
Justice Mehta’s allegations
Mehta accused Sharma of misuse of powers and sought his transfer to another High Court.
Integrity concerns
Justice Sharma’s response
Sharma said Mehta had no business publicly questioning his integrity and argued that judges should not be judged through the media.
Justice Mehta’s allegations
Mehta said several complaints raised doubts about Sharma’s integrity.
Role in High Court affairs
Justice Sharma’s response
Sharma questioned whether a Supreme Court judge could intervene in the affairs of a High Court and said judges should know their limits.
Justice Mehta’s allegations
Mehta intervened by writing to the Chief Justice of India and the Supreme Court Collegium about Sharma’s conduct and administration.
Key facts
- Former acting Chief Justice
- Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, Rajasthan High Court
- Allegations
- Justice Sandeep Mehta accused Sharma of misuse of powers and said complaints raised doubts about his integrity.
- Sharma’s response
- He denied favouring influential litigants, manipulating rosters, interfering in inquiries or making improper transfers.
- Collegium recommendation
- The Supreme Court Collegium recommended Chhattisgarh High Court Judge Sanjay K Agarwal as Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice.
- Letters
- Justice Mehta sent a series of letters to the Chief Justice of India in August.
- Cases decided
- Sharma said he had decided more than 88,000 cases during nine and a half years as a judge.
- Lawyers’ protest
- Sharma said lawyers went on strike after the allegations and claimed Mehta had instigated the protests.
Quotes
Justice (retd) Sanjeev Prakash Sharma
Former acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court
“What I finally say is judges should know their limits, where they should speak, where they should not. We are people who speak through our judgements; our judgements are tested.”
indianexpress.com
“I have absolutely no idea. Might be simple professional jealousy. In 2011, both of us were elevated as senior advocates.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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