Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta has written to CJI Surya Kant urging the immediate replacement of Rajasthan HC acting Chief Justice SP Sharma, alleging conduct that raises doubts on his integrity.
In three letters dated August 2, August 10, and August 17, 2026, Justice Mehta asked the CJI and the Collegium to appoint an outside Chief Justice to the Rajasthan High Court, warning that continued inaction is wholly against the interest of the Institution.
Justice Mehta stated that he had received complaints about Justice Sharma’s judicial functioning, which prima facie, raise doubts on his integrity. He described instances of Justice Sharma exercising powers as the Acting Chief Justice in a manner unbecoming of the leader of the institution.
They also criticised Justice Sharma’s handling of judicial and administrative matters, stating that his conduct had shown a total lack of leadership qualities.
Justice Mehta wrote: “There are innumerable instances of Mr. Justice Sharma, exercising powers as the Acting Chief Justice in a manner unbecoming of the leader of the institution… I have received several complaints about the judicial functioning of Mr. Justice S.P. Sharma which, prima facie, raise doubts on his integrity.”
Concerns about favouritism were raised by Justice Mehta, who referred to several matters in which Justice Sharma allegedly exercised his position in favour of certain lawyers and parties.
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Justice Mehta pressed for the Collegium to act without delay, stating: “It is thus my earnest request that the Supreme Court Collegium should meet at the earliest and ensure that a regular Chief Justice is appointed in the Rajasthan High Court and Mr. Justice S.P. Sharma is forthwith transferred out of the State looking to his unbecoming conduct.”
Copies of the letters were forwarded to the other members of the Supreme Court Collegium and to the President of India. The episode arrives against a wider debate within the judiciary about transparency, listing practices, and the exercise of a Chief Justice’s administrative “master of the roster” powers.
As the judiciary continues to grapple with issues of transparency and accountability, the allegations against Justice Sharma highlight the need for greater scrutiny of the judiciary’s administrative practices, including the handling of court accounts.
No response from Justice Sharma, the Rajasthan High Court, or the office of the CJI has been reported, leaving the matter unresolved for now.
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