Lawyers practising in Rajasthan have decided to voluntarily abstain from judicial work, both physically and virtually, in all courts until September 6, 2026, while pressing a three-point charter of demands concerning the functioning and administration of the Rajasthan High Court.
The decision was unanimously taken at an emergency joint meeting of the Rajasthan High Court Advocates’ Association, Jodhpur, and the Rajasthan High Court Lawyers’ Association, Jodhpur, held on August 31, 2026. The associations said a “struggle committee” would be constituted to determine the future course of action.
According to a joint press note issued after the meeting, the advocates have demanded that the Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court be kept away from judicial and administrative functions, that a permanent Chief Justice be appointed to the High Court at the earliest, and that the “targeted file system” operating across Rajasthan be discontinued immediately.
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The emergency meeting was convened against the backdrop of what the associations described as serious concerns arising from three letters reportedly written by a judge of the Supreme Court to the Chief Justice of India regarding the functioning and administrative conduct of Rajasthan High Court Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma.
Referring to reports published in newspapers, the associations said the letters allegedly raised issues concerning the misuse of administrative powers, interference in the listing of cases, favouritism and administrative mismanagement. These remain allegations, and the press note does not indicate that they have been judicially established.
The meeting was attended by a large number of senior advocates, members of the Bar Council of Rajasthan, former office-bearers of Bar associations, other members of the legal fraternity and young lawyers. The participants held extensive deliberations on the situation and its potential implications for the independence, dignity and credibility of the judicial institution.
Among those named as having participated were senior advocates Hardev Singh Sidhu (Kharlia), Anand Purohit, Genaram Punia, Jagmal Singh Choudhary, Ravi Bhansali, Dhirendra Singh Champawat, Sachin Acharya, Vineet Jain and Vikas Balia. Bar Council of Rajasthan members, including Ranjeet Joshi, Devendra Singh Mahlana, Ratna Ram Tholiya and Anjali Kaushik, were also stated to have attended the meeting.
The advocates described the situation as unprecedented in Rajasthan’s judicial history. They observed that the judiciary is not merely an institution but a symbol of the Constitution, the rule of law and the citizen’s ultimate faith in the justice-delivery system.
According to the press note, the participants expressed the view that if serious questions relating to a judicial institution are not addressed in a timely, impartial, independent and transparent manner, public confidence in the administration of justice may be adversely affected. The associations stated that they had earlier written to the Chief Justice of India concerning the issue.
At the same time, the lawyers clarified that their action was not intended to become a campaign against any particular individual. They said their objective was to protect the dignity, impartiality and independence of the judicial institution, as well as public confidence in it.
Following detailed deliberations, the meeting unanimously resolved to submit a memorandum containing its three demands to the President of India, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India and the senior-most judges of the Supreme Court Collegium.
Lawyers Demand Acting Chief Justice Be Kept Away From Official Duties
The first demand is that the Acting Chief Justice be kept away from judicial and administrative responsibilities. The associations said such a step was necessary in view of the seriousness of the circumstances and allegations and would help preserve institutional confidence while allowing an impartial process to proceed.
The press note did not specify the nature of the process sought by the associations or identify any formal inquiry already initiated into the reported allegations.
Appointment of Permanent Chief Justice Sought
The second demand is the early appointment of a permanent, full-time Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court.
The advocates said the appointment would provide stability, continuity and effective leadership to the High Court’s judicial and administrative functioning. They emphasised the need for a permanent institutional head amid the concerns raised over the court’s present administration.
Immediate End to ‘Targeted File System’ Demanded
The lawyers’ bodies also called for the immediate discontinuation of the “targeted file system” across Rajasthan.
According to the associations, the system involves targeting older pending cases for disposal merely because they have remained pending for a considerable period. The advocates claimed that the practice was placing excessive pressure on judicial functioning and disrupting lawyers’ professional lives.
They further stated that the system had severely affected advocates’ work-life balance and generated widespread dissatisfaction and practical difficulties among members of the Bar throughout Rajasthan.
The associations, therefore, sought its withdrawal with immediate effect. The press note, however, did not provide administrative details about the system, the categories of cases covered by it or the authority under which it operates.
Statewide Call for Lawyers’ Support
The joint meeting also decided to make a broader appeal to advocates across Rajasthan. Letters will be sent to all Bar associations in the state, urging them to participate in the proposed movement.
The lawyers said members of the legal profession and the public across Rajasthan were concerned about the issues raised in the meeting. They maintained that collective action was required to protect the dignity of the judiciary and preserve public trust in the justice system.
“Our fight is not against any individual, but for the protection of public confidence in the justice-delivery system,” the associations said in their joint declaration.
They added that the dignity of both the Bar and the Bench could be protected only when judicial institutions function according to the highest standards of impartiality, transparency, independence and trust.
The advocates also resolved to remain united in taking what they described as necessary constitutional and institutional steps to preserve the independence and reputation of Rajasthan’s judicial institutions, the dignity of the Bar and the public’s faith in the judiciary.
The press note was issued jointly by Rajasthan High Court Lawyers’ Association President Dilip Singh Udawat and General Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Jhajharia, along with Rajasthan High Court Advocates’ Association President Ranjeet Joshi and General Secretary Dr Vijay Choudhary.
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