Supreme Court Judge Justice Sandeep Mehta has written to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant seeking the replacement of Rajasthan High Court Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, alleging misuse of administrative powers and serious concerns over the functioning of the High Court. Justice Mehta made the request through three letters dated August 2, August 10 and August 17, 2026.
Justice Mehta has reportedly alleged that Justice Sharma used his position as Acting Chief Justice to influence the listing of cases and favour influential litigants. He also referred to allegations that judges of the Rajasthan High Court were threatened with adverse consequences, including transfer, if they did not comply with his directions.
The letters reportedly refer to two Division Bench matters concerning valuable land in Udaipur, with Justice Mehta questioning the manner in which the matters were listed before a Bench headed by Justice Sharma at the Jaipur Bench. He is also stated to have raised questions about administrative decisions concerning the subordinate judiciary.
Justice Mehta’s correspondence further refers to a complaint concerning the treatment of the wife of Rajasthan High Court Judge Justice Uma Shankar Vyas, who is a senior judicial officer. The complaint reportedly concerned the delay in the inauguration of a new court building at Jodhpur.
Another issue referred to in the letters concerns appointments to Permanent Lok Adalats in Jaipur and Ajmer. A complaint by advocate Pooja Tripathi allegedly raised questions over the appointment of persons said to be close to Justice Sharma, including a childhood friend and spouses of two district judges. The complaint also reportedly questioned recommendations of certain women advocates for elevation to the High Court.
Justice Mehta has reportedly urged that instead of continuing Justice Sharma as Acting Chief Justice, the Supreme Court Collegium should appoint a Chief Justice from another High Court and transfer Justice Sharma out of Rajasthan.
Justice Sharma has been serving as Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court and is due to retire on September 26, 2026. Justice Mehta himself previously served in the Rajasthan High Court before becoming Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court and subsequently being elevated to the Supreme Court.