Justice Agrawal Named Rajasthan HC Chief Amid Row

The central government has appointed Justice Sanjay Kumar Agrawal as the new Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, a move intended to restore administrative stability to the state’s highest court. The appointment, cleared on Saturday, September 5, 2026, follows a recommendation from the Supreme Court Collegium on August 31, 2026. Justice Agrawal, previously a judge at the Chhattisgarh High Court, was recently appointed acting Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh on September 4, 2026. His arrival in Rajasthan fills a vacancy for a regular chief justice that has persisted for nearly a year. The appointment, however, occurs amidst significant controversy surrounding the conduct of the court's acting Chief Justice, Sanjeev Prakash Sharma. Serious allegations, including corruption, nepotism, favoritism, and misuse of administrative powers, were leveled against Justice Sharma by Supreme Court Justice Sandeep Mehta. Justice Mehta reportedly sent multiple letters to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant detailing concerns about the manipulation of case listings and the exercise of administrative authority.