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Rajasthan High Court Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma has gone on leave for three days amid protests by members of the Bar against his continuation as Acting Chief Justice.

As per the updated roster for Jaipur bench, the Acting CJ will not be holding any sitting from September 1 to September 5.

The development comes against the backdrop of protests by lawyers, who have been demanding that Justice Sharma be relieved of the charge of Acting Chief Justice and that a permanent Chief Justice be appointed to the Rajasthan High Court.

The protest followed recent letters sent by Justice Sandeep Mehta of the Supreme Court to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant raising grave complaints against ACJ Sharma regarding maladministration and favouritism. Justice Mehta also urged the CJI to appoint a Chief Justice from another High Court.

In his letter, Justice Mehta made a strong comment: "There are innumerable instances of Mr. Justice Sharma, exercising powers as the Acting Chief Justice in a manner unbecoming of the leader of the institution... I have received several complaints about the judicial functioning of Mr. Justice S.P. Sharma which, prima facie, raise doubts on his integrity."
After Justice Mehta's letters came out in the public domain, the Chief Justice of India issued a statement that the complaints against Justice Sharma were under examination.

Following the decision of the Rajasthan High Court bar to abstain from work till September 6, the Rajasthan High Court Advocate Clerks Association, Jodhpur has also announced its decision to abstain from work at the Jodhpur Bench.

Justice Shamra is set to retire on September 26.

 

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