Rajasthan High Court lawyers boycott work in Jodhpur, demand Acting CJ's removal

Lawyers' associations at the principal seat of the Rajasthan High Court in Jodhpur have decided to abstain from work until September 6, escalating a standoff over the functioning of Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma. The decision, taken on Monday, follows the surfacing of letters written by a Supreme Court judge to the Chief Justice of India.

The High Court Advocates' Association and the High Court Lawyers' Association in Jodhpur announced the boycott after an emergency meeting, stating the move was necessary to protect the "dignity and independence" of the judiciary and preserve public confidence in the justice delivery system.

The lawyers have put forward a three-point charter of demands. Besides seeking the Acting Chief Justice's relief from judicial and administrative duties, the charter calls for the appointment of a permanent Chief Justice and the immediate discontinuation of the "targeted file system".

The agitation follows allegations made by Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta in his letters, which reportedly include claims of "misuse of powers, favouritism, nepotism, and administrative lapses" and a request for Justice Sharma's transfer. A section of lawyers at the High Court's Jaipur Bench had earlier staged a protest outside Justice Sharma's courtroom, raising slogans. The demonstration reportedly prevented some lawyers from entering the court, prompting police intervention to disperse the crowd.

Dilip Singh Udawat, president of the High Court Lawyers' Association, said a struggle committee has been constituted to decide the future course of action. Meanwhile, the High Court Bar Association in Jaipur has decided to send a "strongly worded" memorandum to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, urging a time-bound inquiry into the issues raised in Justice Mehta's letters. Association president Rajeev Sogarwal said the memorandum will request that the findings of the inquiry be made public.