Supreme Court Collegium recommends new Rajasthan High Court chief justice

The Supreme Court Collegium on Monday recommended the appointment of Justice Sanjay K Agrawal as the new Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, a move that follows weeks of allegations against the acting chief justice and protests by lawyers. The recommendation comes amid a controversy surrounding Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, who has faced accusations of misuse of administrative power and has now stepped back from judicial work. The Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and including Justices Vikram Nath and BV Nagarathna, recommended Justice Agrawal, who is currently a judge at the Chhattisgarh High Court. The Collegium also recommended his immediate transfer to the Rajasthan High Court to enable him to join as the senior-most judge there, pending his formal elevation as Chief Justice. The decision follows allegations made by Supreme Court Justice Sandeep Mehta in letters sent to the Chief Justice of India in August. Justice Mehta accused Acting Chief Justice Sharma of manipulating the listing of cases to favor certain litigants and of using his position to appoint associates to administrative posts.