CJI Surya Kant Seeks Responses From Both Sides In Rajasthan HC Dispute
· India · Indian Express, Live Law
CJI Surya Kant has sought comments from "both sides" in a dispute involving Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta and Rajasthan High Court Acting Chief Justice S P Sharma, following Justice Mehta's letters alleging "gross maladministration", misuse of administrative powers and favouritism at the Rajasthan HC. The CJI's office said he had taken note of the concerns but stressed that allegations against a sitting judge must be handled through established institutional mechanisms and cannot be settled through competing claims in the media. Justice Sharma, according to the CJI's statement, must be given a fair opportunity to respond before any conclusion is reached. The Collegium is separately deliberating on permanent Chief Justice appointments for the seven of 25 High Courts that still have acting heads, having recommended appointments for Patna, Bombay, Calcutta and Punjab and Haryana on August 6. Recommendations for Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan remain pending.
Why it matters
The exchange exposes a rare public faultline between a sitting Supreme Court judge and a High Court's acting chief justice, with direct implications for the collegium's pending appointments in Rajasthan and two other High Courts. How the CJI handles these cross-allegations will shape institutional norms on how complaints against judges are processed outside the public domain.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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