New Delhi: Following the issues raised by Justice Sandeep Mehta of the Supreme Court about Rajasthan high court Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, lawyers’ bodies in both the high court’s principal seat in Jodhpur and its bench in Jaipur have said that the issues raised by Justice Mehta should be resolved at an institutional forum in the judiciary, reported The Hindu.

The lawyers’ bodies also said that a permanent chief justice should be appointed to the high court.

“Such issues should be taken up at an appropriate forum, as a public debate on them will only tarnish the image of the judiciary,” said Rajeev Sogarwal, president of the High Court Bar Association, Jaipur.

The three Bar Associations in Jodhpur and Jaipur have decided that they will convene a formal meeting for deciding the course of action over the matter.

Ranjeet Joshi, the president of the High Court Advocates’ Association in Jodhpur termed the issues raised in Justice Mehta’s letter as serious and said that representatives of three lawyers’ bodies were in touch and would decide the next course of action soon.

Justice Mehta had written to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on August 2, 10 and 17, seeking the appointment of a Chief Justice from outside Rajasthan and, ultimately, Justice Sharma’s transfer. It attributes to Justice Mehta allegations concerning case listings and the exercise of administrative authority.

The letters and complaint are not publicly available, and Justice Sharma has not publicly responded. The CJI has, however, said in the press statement that Justice Sharma must be given a fair opportunity to place his response before any conclusion is reached, and that the process will consider both Justice Mehta’s material and Justice Sharma’s response.

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