The Rajasthan High Court is set to get a new, regular Chief Justice after nearly a year without one. The Central Government notified the appointment of Justice Sanjay Kumar Agrawal as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court on Saturday, September 6, 2026. Justice Agrawal currently serves as Acting Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court, from where he will now move to lead the Rajasthan bench.
The Supreme Court collegium recommended Justice Agrawal’s appointment, along with his transfer from Chhattisgarh to Rajasthan, four days before the government’s official notification. His appointment arrives at a particularly sensitive moment for the Rajasthan High Court, coming shortly before the scheduled retirement of the court’s current Acting Chief Justice, Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, who faces serious allegations raised publicly by a sitting Supreme Court judge.
Quick Facts: Justice Sanjay Kumar Agrawal’s Appointment
- New position: Chief Justice, Rajasthan High Court
- Notified by: Central Government
- Notification date: Saturday, September 6, 2026
- Current position: Acting Chief Justice, Chhattisgarh High Court
- Recommended by: Supreme Court collegium, four days before notification
- Elevated as additional judge (Chhattisgarh HC): September 2013
- Made permanent judge (Chhattisgarh HC): March 2016
- Became Acting CJ of Chhattisgarh HC: Following Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha’s retirement on September 4
- Vacancy ended: Nearly a year-long vacancy of a regular Chief Justice in Rajasthan
- Outgoing Acting CJ of Rajasthan HC: Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma
- Sharma’s scheduled retirement: September 26, 2026
Who Is Justice Sanjay Kumar Agrawal?
Justice Sanjay Kumar Agrawal built his judicial career primarily within the Chhattisgarh High Court. He was elevated as an additional judge of that court in September 2013, before being confirmed as a permanent judge in March 2016. This gave him well over a decade of judicial experience within the Chhattisgarh system before this latest appointment.
His path to Acting Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh came more recently. He assumed that role after Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha retired on September 4, positioning him at the head of the Chhattisgarh High Court just days before his own elevation and transfer to Rajasthan were formally notified.
Justice Sanjay Kumar Agrawal’s Career Timeline at a Glance
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| September 2013 | Elevated as additional judge, Chhattisgarh High Court |
| March 2016 | Made permanent judge, Chhattisgarh High Court |
| September 4, 2026 | Became Acting Chief Justice, Chhattisgarh High Court |
| Four days before Sept 6, 2026 | Supreme Court collegium recommends appointment and transfer to Rajasthan |
| September 6, 2026 | Central Government notifies appointment as Chief Justice, Rajasthan High Court |
How the Selection Process Unfolded
Justice Agrawal’s appointment followed India’s standard judicial appointment process for High Court Chief Justices. The Supreme Court collegium first recommended both his elevation to the position and his transfer from the Chhattisgarh High Court to the Rajasthan High Court. The Central Government then formally notified this appointment four days after the collegium’s recommendation.
This appointment carries additional significance because it ends what had become a prolonged vacancy. The Rajasthan High Court had gone without a regular, permanent Chief Justice for nearly a year before this notification, a gap that this appointment now formally closes.
Context: Allegations Against the Outgoing Acting Chief Justice
Justice Agrawal’s appointment arrives against the backdrop of a separate, serious controversy involving Rajasthan High Court’s current Acting Chief Justice, Sanjeev Prakash Sharma. According to reports, Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta has publicly accused Justice Sharma of corruption, nepotism, favouritism, and misuse of administrative powers.
It is important to note that these remain allegations raised by Justice Mehta, and reports indicate the underlying issues remain unresolved at this stage. Justice Sharma’s own tenure as Acting Chief Justice is scheduled to end with his retirement on September 26, 2026, meaning Justice Agrawal’s arrival as the new, regular Chief Justice comes just weeks before that transition would have occurred in any case.
Why This Appointment Matters
Beyond the individual case, this appointment carries broader institutional significance for the Rajasthan High Court. Filling a Chief Justice vacancy that had persisted for close to a year helps restore full, regular leadership to one of India’s major state High Courts, rather than continuing to rely on an acting arrangement.
Additionally, the timing of this appointment, arriving shortly before the controversy surrounding the outgoing Acting Chief Justice and his scheduled retirement, adds an extra layer of institutional importance to a transition that might otherwise have been a routine judicial reassignment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
About the Appointment
Justice Sanjay Kumar Agrawal, currently Acting Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court, has been appointed Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court.
The Central Government notified the appointment on Saturday, September 6, 2026.
The Supreme Court collegium recommended his appointment and transfer from Chhattisgarh to Rajasthan, four days before the government’s official notification.
The court had gone without a regular, permanent Chief Justice for nearly a year before this appointment.
He was serving as Acting Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court, a role he assumed after Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha retired on September 4.
Background and Context
He was elevated as an additional judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court in September 2013 and was made a permanent judge in March 2016.
Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta has publicly accused Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma of corruption, nepotism, favouritism, and misuse of administrative powers. These remain allegations, and reports indicate the matter is unresolved.
He is scheduled to retire on September 26, 2026.
Reports indicate the appointment addresses a long-pending Chief Justice vacancy in Rajasthan; it arrives around the same period as the separate controversy involving Justice Sharma, though the appointment itself followed the standard collegium recommendation process.
The Supreme Court collegium recommends candidates for Chief Justice positions, including any necessary inter-court transfers, and the Central Government then formally notifies the appointment.
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