CJI Surya Kant Says Allegations Against Rajasthan High Court Acting Chief Justice Cannot Be Adjudicated in Public

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has said that allegations against a sitting judge must be dealt with through established institutional mechanisms and cannot be adjudicated in the public domain.

The statement came in connection with concerns raised by Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta regarding Rajasthan High Court Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma.

The Chief Justice of India said the issues raised by Justice Mehta were being examined through the appropriate institutional process. He added that no conclusion could be drawn merely because allegations had been made and that the judge concerned must be given a fair opportunity to respond.

According to the statement, the Supreme Court Collegium has also considered the issues while working on the appointment of Chief Justices in the remaining High Courts.

The CJI stressed that individual complaints involving judges cannot be decided through competing claims or public debate in the media. Such matters, he said, must be addressed through the established institutional framework.

The process will take into account the material submitted by Justice Sandeep Mehta as well as the response of Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma before any decision is made.

Any decision regarding Justice Sharma's continuation as Acting Chief Justice, transfer or other administrative action will be taken by the competent institutional authority after examining all relevant material.

Justice Sandeep Mehta had written three letters dated August 2, August 10 and August 17 regarding the functioning of the Rajasthan High Court. In the letters, he raised allegations including maladministration, favouritism, nepotism and misuse of administrative powers.

He also raised concerns about the transfer of certain cases from other benches to the Acting Chief Justice's court and issues related to the administration of the Rajasthan High Court and subordinate judiciary.

Justice Mehta had also urged the appointment of a permanent Chief Justice for the Rajasthan High Court from outside the state.

Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma has been serving as the Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court since the retirement of former Chief Justice S. Shriram in September 2025. The matter will now be examined through the institutional process, with any action to follow only after considering the allegations and the response submitted by the concerned judge.