Breaking: CJI Surya Kant says Collegium examining Justice Mehta’s concerns; Allegations against judge cannot be treated as findings

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant has said that he has taken note of concerns raised by Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta regarding Rajasthan High Court Acting Chief Justice SP Sharma, while stressing that allegations against a sitting judge must be dealt with through the established institutional process.

The statement comes shortly after Bar & Bench exclusively reported on three letters written by Justice Mehta to the CJI, dated August 2, August 10 and August 17, 2026, seeking the transfer of Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, Justice Sharma, out of the State over allegations including manipulation of case listings and misuse of office.

In his statement, the CJI said that the allegations could not be treated as established merely because they had been made. He also stressed that Justice Sharma must be given an opportunity to respond before any conclusion is reached.

“The contents of the letters cannot be adjudicated in the public domain and that the concerned judge must be given a fair opportunity to place his response before any conclusion is reached. The fact that allegations have been made, therefore, cannot by itself be treated as a finding against the judge,” the CJI said.

The CJI said the matter was being examined at the appropriate institutional level and that both the material placed by Justice Mehta and Justice Sharma’s response would be considered.

He added that any decision concerning Justice Sharma’s continuation, transfer or other administrative action would be taken by the competent institutional authority after considering the material.

The CJI also said that the issue should not be decided through competing claims made in the media.

“The Supreme Court cannot allow individual complaints concerning judges to be determined through competing claims in the media,” he said.

Justice Mehta’s letters had urged the Collegium to appoint a Chief Justice from another High Court to head the Rajasthan High Court with immediate effect.

In his August 2 letter, Justice Mehta had referred to complaints allegedly made by judges of the Rajasthan High Court about Justice Sharma’s conduct. He had also alleged that Justice Sharma threatened fellow judges with transfers by claiming proximity to the CJI.

The letters also referred to cases involving land in Udaipur and alleged that matters were listed before Justice Sharma’s bench at the Jaipur seat despite an earlier ruling by Justice Sharma concerning the listing of such matters at the Jodhpur seat.

Justice Mehta’s August 17 letter further referred to an alleged complaint by a sitting Rajasthan High Court judge concerning Justice Sharma’s conduct towards the judge’s wife, a senior district judicial officer.

Justice Mehta had also flagged a complaint by an advocate alleging irregularities in appointments to Permanent Lok Adalats and in recommendations of women lawyers for elevation to the High Court.

Justice Mehta had said that his earlier letters of August 2 and August 10 had not received a response and urged the Collegium to act immediately.

He had requested that Justice Sharma be transferred out of Rajasthan, stating that this was necessary to protect the institution.