The Rajasthan High Court will have a regular Chief Justice after nearly a year, with the Centre on Saturday night notifying the appointment of Justice Sanjay Kumar Agrawal to the post.
Justice Agrawal is currently a judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court, which is also his parent high court.
The appointment comes amid a controversy in the Rajasthan High Court after Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta accused acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma of corruption, nepotism, favouritism and misuse of administrative powers.
Justice Mehta, whose parent high court is also the Rajasthan High Court, had written three letters to the Chief Justice of India on August 2, 10 and 17, urging the appointment of a permanent Chief Justice from outside the state.
Last Monday, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended names for appointment as Chief Justices of eight high courts. On Saturday, the Centre notified these appointments.
Among the other appointments, Justice Valluri Kameswar Rao, currently a judge of the Delhi High Court, has been appointed Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, while Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge of the Bombay High Court will head the Calcutta High Court.
Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi of the Allahabad High Court has been appointed Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, while Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati of the Rajasthan High Court will head the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court.
Justice Krushna Ram Mohapatra of the Orissa High Court has been appointed Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court, while Justice Alpesh Yeshwant Kogje of the Gujarat High Court will head the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has also been appointed Chief Justice of another high court.
