Jaipur, Sep 1 (PTI) The Rajasthan High Court Advocates’ Association in Jodhpur said it would go ahead with its strike on Tuesday against Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, but would hold a meeting later in the day to decide their future course of action in the wake of the Supreme Court Collegium recommending appointment of a new Chief Justice of the state high court.
The Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Monday recommended Justice Sanjay K Agrawal of the Chhattisgarh High Court for appointment as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court.
The recommendation came hours after Acting Chief Justice Sharma went on leave following a protest by a group of advocates outside his courtroom at the Jaipur bench on Monday over allegations concerning judicial administration and case listings levelled against him by Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta.
While some advocates had protested outside the courtroom at the Jaipur bench on Monday, advocates at the principal seat in Jodhpur had announced a week-long strike beginning Tuesday demanding that Justice Sharma not be appointed as the permanent Chief Justice.
Rajasthan High Court Advocates’ Association Jodhpur’s president Ranjeet Joshi said the strike would be observed on Tuesday as announced, but a meeting would be held during the day to decide its future course.
“Justice Mehta raised issues that needed to be raised. I had also earlier written to the CJI in this regard. We had demanded that Justice Sharma should not be made permanent Chief Justice,” Joshi told PTI.
“Since our demand has now been met, we will hold a meeting during the day and take a decision. The strike, however, will continue today,” he said.
Rajasthan High Court Bar Association Jaipur president Rajeev Sogarwal said functioning was expected to remain normal in Jaipur on Tuesday.
“Advocates have no personal animosity with Justice Sharma.It is good that the Supreme Court took up the matter and took steps to resolve the issue. This will help restore normalcy,” Sogarwal told PTI.
“We welcome the new Chief Justice,” he said.
The controversy followed letters written by Justice Mehta to the CJI raising allegations over the exercise of administrative powers and case listings by the Acting Chief Justice.
Justice Mehta had sought Justice Sharma’s transfer out of Rajasthan and appointment of a regular Chief Justice from another high court.
Indresh Sharma, an advocate at the Jaipur bench, welcomed the collegium’s recommendation.
“It is good for everyone that the immediate issue has been brought to a close,” he told PTI.
He said controversies involving the judiciary could affect public confidence in the institution.
“When such issues arise, the image of the judiciary suffers and a negative perception is created among people. They may then begin viewing even high court judgments through that perception and questioning them,” Sharma said.
He said efforts were needed to protect the judiciary’s image and public confidence in it.
Referring to the Collegium’s recommendation for the appointment of Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati, the second senior-most judge of Rajasthan High Court, as Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, he said, “The second senior-most judge of the Rajasthan High Court is also being moved out. There are several questions and aspects involved, and the facts need to be properly examined before conclusions are drawn”.
Justice Agrawal, whose parent High Court is Chhattisgarh, has been recommended as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, while Justice Bhati, whose parent High Court is Rajasthan, has been recommended as Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court.
Supreme Court judge Justice Mehta had written three letters to CJI Kant raising serious allegations against Justice Sharma and seeking his transfer out of Rajasthan.
In his letters, Mehta had alleged “gross maladministration”, misuse of administrative powers and favouritism in the functioning of the Rajasthan High Court.
He also raised allegations concerning case listings and sought appointment of a regular chief justice from another high court. PTI SDA DV DV
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