# SC judge seeks removal of Rajasthan HC acting CJ over misconduct 2026-08-26T10:31:32+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta has written three letters to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant in August, seeking the immediate replacement of Rajasthan High Court Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, alleging misconduct, favouritism, and conduct unbecoming of a leader. Times Now reports that Justice Mehta accused Justice Sharma of threatening colleagues with retributive action including transfer, and claimed to have received complaints raising doubts on his integrity. The Hindu Business Line adds that Justice Mehta described a 'grim and disturbing scenario' in the high court, citing maladministration and malpractice on judicial and administrative sides. Justice Mehta, who was elevated to the Supreme Court from the Rajasthan High Court, wrote that cases were suddenly shifted to the acting chief justice's bench without cause, and that judicial officers were humiliated to satisfy a 'personal vendetta'. He also alleged a 'fanciful plan' for a multi-storied guest house was a waste of public money, and that a full court meeting was held to designate favoured advocates as seniors on a working day. Justice Sharma, due to retire on September 26, was appointed acting chief justice in September last year. The letters were also forwarded to other Collegium members and the President. A Supreme Court official said the CJI is currently on an official tour abroad. Justice Mehta has not received a response after his August 17 letter. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Both outlets report the same core allegations, but Times Now leads with the sensational charge of 'misconduct' and the call for removal, while The Hindu Business Line provides more detailed context on the timeline and the Collegium's earlier reluctance to repatriate Justice Sharma. The critical framing is shared: the story is an internal judiciary conflict made public. The key watch point is whether the CJI will act before Justice Sharma's retirement on September 26, and whether the Collegium will now appoint a chief justice from another state. ## Coverage Coverage: 2 sources, 1 neutral, 1 sensationalist - timesnownews.com (sensationalist) Leads with 'major development' and serious allegations without immediate institutional response - thehindubusinessline.com (neutral report) Provides detailed, chronological account of letters without dramatic framing This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources. Last updated 2026-08-26T15:22:09+00:00. Tags: CJI Surya Kant, Droupadi Murmu, Rajasthan High Court, Sandeep Mehta, Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, Supreme Court collegium Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/sc-judge-seeks-removal-of-rajasthan-hc-acting-chief-justice/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/sc-judge-seeks-removal-of-rajasthan-hc-acting-chief-justice/#story-in-brief How this brief was made: an AI model read the reports linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. Stance labels are editorial classifications of how each outlet framed this story, assigned by the same model, not ratings of the outlets. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/