The Centre has appointed Justice Sanjay Kumar Agrawal as the chief justice of the Rajasthan High Court, ending the court’s prolonged wait for a regular chief justice amid an ongoing controversy surrounding acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma.
The appointment was notified on Saturday night as part of a larger order naming eight new chief justices for various high courts.
Justice Agrawal, currently a judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court, was recommended by the Supreme Court collegium for the Rajasthan post four days before the Centre’s notification.
His appointment could pave the way for Rajasthan High Court to have a regular chief justice after nearly a year.
Appointment comes amid allegations against acting CJ
The development assumes significance against the backdrop of allegations made by Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta against Justice Sharma.
Justice Mehta wrote three letters to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on August 2, 10 and 17, alleging corruption, nepotism, favouritism and misuse of administrative powers by Justice Sharma. He also sought Sharma’s transfer out of Rajasthan and urged the appointment of a regular chief justice from another high court.
Justice Sharma has denied the allegations, describing them as baseless and factless. He has submitted a detailed response to the CJI and said his rebuttal was supported by evidence.
The CJI has indicated that allegations against a sitting judge must be dealt with through the established institutional mechanism and that Justice Sharma must be given an opportunity to respond.
Justice Sharma’s transfer remains separate issue
While Justice Agrawal’s appointment resolves the immediate question of who will head the Rajasthan High Court on a regular basis, it does not settle Justice Mehta’s separate demand concerning Justice Sharma.
Justice Sharma’s transfer out of Rajasthan has not so far been examined by the collegium. The allegations against him remain under institutional consideration.
Justice Sharma has served as acting chief justice of the Rajasthan High Court since September 2025 and is due to retire on September 26.
Eight new high court chief justices appointed
Along with Justice Agrawal, the Centre notified the appointments of seven other chief justices:
- Justice V Kameswar Rao — Patna High Court
- Justice Ravindra V Ghuge — Calcutta High Court
- Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi — Bombay High Court
- Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra — Punjab and Haryana High Court
- Justice Krushna Ram Mohapatra — Chhattisgarh High Court
- Justice Alpesh Yashwant Kogje — Madhya Pradesh High Court
- Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati — Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court
Justice Agrawal had been appointed acting chief justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court following the retirement of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha on September 4, pending the completion of the process for his move to Rajasthan.
His appointment as Rajasthan chief justice is expected to bring an end to the court’s extended period under an acting chief justice, while the separate institutional process concerning Justice Sharma continues.
