JAIPUR: Rajasthan high court‘s acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma broke his silence Wednesday on what he termed a “frivolous” smear campaign against him, allegedly timed to influence the Supreme Court collegium’s recommendation of a full-time appointee.“Let me tell you, all these allegations against me are false and concocted. This was done only to deny me the opportunity to be the Chief Justice (of Raj HC) or elevation to any other position,” he told TOI, two days after the collegium picked Justice Sanjay K Agrawal of Chhattisgarh HC as the next CJ. Justice Sharma has been the subject of scrutiny ever since SC judge Justice Sandeep Mehta wrote multiple letters to CJI Surya Kant, flagging alleged misuse of powers and corruption at Rajasthan HC.
Judge’s rebuttals
Submitted my position to CJI Kant, says SharmaThe outgoing acting CJ accused a section of lawyers of Jaipur Bar Association of orchestrating a separate campaign last week to malign him when SC collegium was to consider his potential elevation.He said “a small group of lawyers” shouted slogans outside his courtroom and circulated the videos for no purpose other than to ensure the protest reached the collegium’s ears. He alleged that the strike by two bar associations in Jodhpur was also “at the behest of somebody intending to spoil my image”.“I have submitted my position to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. I have also refuted, with evidence, the baseless allegations made by Justice Mehta in his letters to CJI,” Justice Sharma said, adding he would frame a detailed public response “at the appropriate time”.Justice Sharma said his official response to Justice Mehta’s allegations questioning his integrity included documentary evidence. He appealed to the media, lawyers and others for restraint until CJI Surya Kant took a decision on the matter.“Anyone can stand up and can say anything… I have full faith in the Indian judicial system.”Defending his record since taking charge as acting Chief Justice at Rajasthan High Court, Justice Sharma highlighted initiatives such as an international conference on cybercrime through which, according to him, Rajasthan “emerged as a whistleblower”.He referred to a strike by subordinate court employees when he assumed charge as Acting Chief Justice.“Employees were on strike for a month when I took charge. It was called off within two days of my intervention,” he said.Justice Sharma also mentioned a symposium organised for women lawyers, where they shared their experiences, struggles and perspectives on the judiciary.
