JAIPUR: The Supreme Court Collegium recommended Justice Sanjay K Agarwal of Chhattisgarh HC as Chief Justice of Rajasthan HC late Monday, ending a nearly yearlong stint under acting CJ Sanjeev Prakash Sharma as protests by lawyers over his functioning intensified. The Collegium also recommended Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati as CJ of J&K HC.Hours before the recommendation, Sharma decided to abstain from judicial work from Sept 1 to 5. Rajasthan HC administration issued an amended roster for the period, assigning PIL matters to court no. 3, comprising Justice Inderjeet Singh and Justice Sandeep Taneja.The move came as two Jodhpur bar associations extended their boycott of Justice Sharma till Sept 6, demanding he be kept away from judicial and administrative duties. Rajasthan HC Lawyers’ Association and Rajasthan HC Advocates’ Association of Jodhpur resolved to abstain from court appearances.
The bars had decided to submit a memorandum to the President, PM, CJI Surya Kant and senior Collegium judges, seeking a permanent full-time CJ for Rajasthan HC and an immediate end to the “targeted file system” across the state.The confrontation followed three letters Justice Sandeep Mehta wrote to the CJI on Aug 2, 10 and 17, seeking Justice Sharma’s transfer out of Rajasthan. Mehta accused Justice Sharma of misusing administrative powers and interfering in case listing, and sought a CJ from another state.In Jaipur, lawyers gathered outside Justice Sharma’s courtroom, shouted slogans and staged a brief sit-in Monday. Addressing an open court after lawyers blocked appearances before his bench, the acting CJ said: “The situation is a little tense today, as the lawyers are not allowing anyone to appear before the court.”Jodhpur bars appealed to lawyers across Rajasthan to join the movement.
