‘Serious concern’: Rajasthan lawyers break silence on allegations against acting Chief Justice

“Strongly condemning any alleged misuse of position” and expressing “deep concern” at the recent allegations against the acting Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court, Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, three lawyer associations in the state have demanded that the matter be addressed with “utmost seriousness”.

The Rajasthan High Court Bar Association, Jaipur; the Rajasthan High Court Lawyers’ Association, Jodhpur; and the Rajasthan High Court Advocates’ Association, Jodhpur, convened an emergency meeting of their office bearers through video conferencing on Thursday, where they expressed “serious concern over the recent developments that have come to light through the media.” Earlier this month, Justice Sandeep Mehta of the Supreme Court wrote three letters to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, seeking the transfer of the acting CJ of Rajasthan to another HC and the appointment of a new Chief Justice there.

Justice Mehta accused Justice Sharma of “misuse of powers” and said he had received “several complaints” which “raise doubts” on the Acting CJ’s “integrity”. “The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has requested an institutional investigation.

Since this matter is extremely serious and concerns the institutional dignity and independence of the judiciary, the legal community views this entire development with deep concern,” the associations said in a joint statement.

“We strongly and unequivocally condemn any alleged misuse of any position, office, or institutional arrangement within the judiciary… any incident, conduct, or situation that calls into question the impartiality, dignity, or credibility of the judiciary must be addressed with the utmost seriousness,” they said.

At the Thursday meeting, it was unanimously decided that “a joint meeting of all the officials of the three associations would be held to discuss the facts and circumstances in detail, and then decide on the next strategy and decision” in two days.

“We also humbly expect from the Hon'ble Judiciary that necessary action should be taken in this entire matter by giving top priority to institutional dignity, independence and transparency…,” they said. Earlier, in December 2025 and in April, the Rajasthan High Court Advocates’ Association, Jodhpur, had written to the CJI seeking a permanent Chief Justice for the HC.

In December, it had said that the relationship between the Bench and the Bar was deteriorating and that, “the absence of a permanent Chief Justice often leads to an administrative vacuum or, as witnessed currently, an overreach of acting powers.” In April, they had requested the CJI to shift the acting CJ out of Rajasthan “so that harmony can be maintained between the Bar and the Bench.” It had said that, “The lack of communication and treatment of advocates is leading to frequent disagreements and conflicts between the Bar and the Bench…” Meanwhile, both Jodhpur-based lawyers’ associations have requested the acting CJ to ensure that the judges’ strength at the principal seat in the city be suitably increased.

In their letter to the acting CJ, they said that it has been the consistent tradition, practice and institutional history that the strength in Jodhpur “has ordinarily remained higher than that at the Jaipur Bench…” They said that on several occasions, both associations have requested that the permanent sitting at Jodhpur be suitably increased, “keeping in view the enormous volume of litigation, mounting pendency and the continuing institutional responsibilities of the Principal Seat…”