Justice Sanjay K Agrawal sworn in as Rajasthan High Court chief justice

Justice Sanjay K Agrawal has taken charge as the 44th chief justice of the Rajasthan High Court, assuming the post after serving as a judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court.

Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade administered the oath at a ceremony at Lok Bhavan on Monday. Afterward, Agrawal signed the warrant of appointment issued by the President.

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Deputy Chief Ministers Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa, state ministers, Chief Secretary V Srinivas and Rajasthan High Court judges attended the ceremony.

Agrawal’s appointment follows controversy involving Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, who had been serving as acting chief justice. Supreme Court Justice Sandeep Mehta wrote to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant seeking Sharma’s transfer out of Rajasthan and the appointment of a regular chief justice from another High Court. Mehta raised allegations about Sharma’s use of administrative powers and the listing of cases.

The Chief Justice of India indicated that the allegations against a sitting judge would need to be examined through the established institutional mechanism, while Sharma should have an opportunity to respond. Sharma later submitted a detailed response rejecting the allegations as baseless and saying it was supported by evidence. Agrawal had briefly served as acting chief justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court after Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha retired on September 4, pending completion of his appointment to Rajasthan.

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The allegations are baseless.