Rajasthan High Court Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma has broken his silence over the controversy surrounding allegations of manipulation of case listings and misuse of administrative powers, denying the charges and describing them as baseless.

The allegations were raised by Supreme Court Justice Sandeep Mehta in communications addressed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. Justice Mehta had sought the replacement of Justice Sharma as Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court and urged that a Chief Justice from another State be appointed to the Rajasthan High Court.

Justice Sharma categorically rejected the allegations. He said the charges were without basis and claimed that they had been made against him by the concerned judge out of resentment.

Justice Sharma said he had already placed his version of events before CJI Surya Kant. Justice Sharma said he has complete faith in the Indian judicial system and urged all concerned to wait for the CJI's decision before drawing conclusions. He added that, at the appropriate time and subject to the CJI's approval, he would personally appear before the media and present his version.

His statement, issued in Hindi, read as follows :

गत दिनों मीडिया व शोशल मीडिया में चल रहे घटनाक्रम के संदर्भ में में यह स्पष्ट करना चाहता हूँ की में इन सभी आरोपों का खंडन करता हूँ सभी आरोप बेबुनियाद हैं और माननीय जज साहब द्वारा रंजिश वश लगाये गये हैं ।

मैंने अपना पक्ष माननीय सर्वोच्च न्यायाधीश श्री सूर्यकांत जी को प्रेषित कर दिया है । मैंने माननीय संदीप मेहता जी के कृत्य व उनके द्वारा लिखित पत्रों में निराधार और झूठे व तथ्यहीन आरोप का खंडन प्रमाण सहित किया है ।

मीडिया व वकील बन्धुओ व अन्य से भी करबद्ध अपील करता हूँ न्याय के सिद्धांत का मान रखते हुए सीजेआई के निर्णय तक धार्य रखें । मैं भारतीय न्याय प्रणाली पर पूर्ण विश्वास रखता हूँ । एव जल्द ही सही समय आने पर cji द्वारा स्वीकृती मिलने पर स्वयं मीडिया के समक्ष आ कर अपना पक्ष रखूँगा तब तक धर्य रखें

[In the context of the developments that have been going on in the media and social media in the past few days, I want to make it clear that I deny all these allegations. All the allegations are baseless and have been made by the Hon'ble Judge out of rancour.

I have sent my side to the Hon'ble Chief Justice of India, Shri Surya Kant Ji. I have refuted, with evidence, the baseless, false and factless allegations contained in the acts of the Hon'ble Sandeep Mehta Ji and in the letters written by him.

I also humbly appeal to the media, my lawyer brothers and others to, while respecting the principles of justice, maintain patience until the decision of the CJI. I have complete faith in the Indian judicial system. And soon, when the right time comes, upon receiving approval from the CJI, I will myself come before the media and present my side. Until then, please maintain patience.]

Following media reports about Justice Mehta's communications to the CJI, the Chief Justice of India had responded that the allegations were being examined by the Collegium and that Justice Sharma would be given an opportunity to respond before any conclusion was reached.

The Rajasthan HC lawyers meanwhile launched protests against Justice SP Sharma.

Amid the protests, the SC Collegium proposed the appointment of Justice SK Agarwal of Chhattisgarh HC as the regular CJ of Rajasthan.

Justice Sharma is scheduled to retire on September 26.