SC judge’s allegations against Rajasthan HC Acting CJ under examination: CJI Surya Kant
CJI Surya Kant says Justice Sandeep Mehta’s allegations against Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma cannot be treated as findings without due process and a hearing
Responding to media reports regarding Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta writing to him raising serious allegations against the Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has said that he has taken note of the matter and it is being examined at the “appropriate level.”
Institutional mechanism
The CJI, however, made it clear that the allegations against a sitting judge must be dealt with strictly in accordance with the established institutional mechanism, reported Live Law.
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He further stated that the contents of Justice Mehta’s letter could not be adjudicated in the public domain, adding that no conclusion could be reached in this regard without an opportunity of hearing being provided to Justice Sharma.
The CJI stated that Justice Mehta’s allegations, which are now in the public domain through media reports, cannot in themselves be treated as a finding against Justice Sharma.
‘No verdict in public domain’
“The Supreme Court cannot allow individual complaints concerning judges to be determined through competing claims in the media,” stated the CJI. He further stated that the Collegium was working on appointing regular Chief Justices to High Courts.
Justice Sharma, who is presently functioning as the Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, is set to retire on September 26.
Justice Mehta’s letters
Justice Sandeep Mehta, whose parent High Court is Rajasthan, had written three letters to the concerned authorities on August 2, August 10 and August 17 this year. Through these communications, Justice Mehta sought the replacement of Justice Sharma as the Acting Chief Justice by appointing a regular Chief Justice to the Rajasthan High Court.
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The letters were based on inputs received from other judges of the High Court, besides information from other sources. Justice Mehta alleged “gross maladministration” and “seriously questionable activities” on the part of Justice Sharma.
The contents of the letters came into the public domain through media reports.