The Supreme Court collegium has recommended Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal as the new chief justice of the Rajasthan High Court [2].
The recommendation follows a period of instability and public friction within the Jaipur-based court. The leadership change comes as lawyers protested the perceived impropriety of the current acting leadership regarding a high-profile land dispute.
Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma recused himself from hearing a public-interest litigation (PIL) concerning the construction of a two-storey building inside the Rambagh Golf Club [1]. The recusal was announced on Tuesday, sparking immediate backlash from advocates in Rajasthan who questioned the circumstances of the withdrawal [1].
Lawyers staged protests against the acting chief justice, citing alleged conflicts of interest in the golf club case [1]. The controversy created a rift between the court's administration and the legal practitioners it oversees.
In response to the turmoil, the Supreme Court collegium met on Monday to recommend Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal to lead the court [2]. This move aims to stabilize the judicial environment in Rajasthan amid the ongoing allegations against the acting chief justice [3].
Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma said he would not sit on any bench until Sept. 5 [3]. This temporary absence removes him from active judicial duties while the recommendation for a permanent replacement proceeds through the official channels.
The dispute centers on the legality of the two-storey structure at the Rambagh Golf Club, a case that has become a flashpoint for discussions on judicial ethics, and transparency in the region [1].
“The Supreme Court collegium has recommended Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal as the new chief justice of the Rajasthan High Court.”
The rapid recommendation of a new chief justice suggests the Supreme Court collegium viewed the protests and the recusal as a significant threat to the Rajasthan High Court's institutional credibility. By replacing the acting leadership, the collegium seeks to decouple the court's administration from the specific conflict of interest involving the Rambagh Golf Club, thereby restoring confidence among the state's legal community.
