In eye of storm, acting Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court breaks silence

“I have submitted my position to the Honourable Supreme Court Justice, Mr Surya Kant. I have refuted, with evidence, the baseless, false, and fact-less allegations made by Honourable Sandeep Mehta in his letters,” Justice Sharma said.

Earlier this month, letters by Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant became public. In his letters sent to the CJI — on August 2, August 10 and August 17 — and copied to other members of the Supreme Court Collegium, 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”. Based on this, Justice Mehta also sought transfer of the acting CJ to another High Court and the appointment of a new Chief Justice.

In his statement, Justice Sharma added, “I humbly appeal to the media, lawyers, and others to respect the principles of justice and remain patient until the CJI issues a decision. I have complete faith in the Indian judicial system. And soon, when the time is right and the CJI approves, I will personally present my case to the media. Please be patient until then.”

Earlier this week, the lawyers’ associations in Rajasthan had also escalated their protests against Justice Sharma. In Jaipur, a section of lawyers sat outside his court on August 31 and indulged in sloganeering against him, while in Jodhpur, both lawyers’ associations announced a strike demanding that he be relieved of his judicial and administrative duties.