- The Supreme Court approved the Delhi High Court's request to replace two special judges overseeing CBI coal scam cases in Delhi.
- Virender Kumar Kharta and Ajay Garg have been appointed as their successors.
- SC has directed the two judges to pronounce any reserved judgments within the fixed dates or shortly thereafter
Digital Desk, New Delhi: The Supreme Court has approved the replacement of two special judges handling CBI coal scam cases in Delhi, following a request from the Delhi High Court to utilise their services for other judicial responsibilities.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymala Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana noted that the Delhi High Court had sought the transfer of Special Judges Sunaina Sharma and Dheeraj Mor, citing the need to deploy their services elsewhere.
The request was conveyed to the Supreme Court through a letter from the Registrar General of the Delhi High Court, which described both judicial officers as having exceptional merit and stated that the High Court wished to utilise their services for other assignments.
Sharma and Mor Transferred After Short Tenures
The decision comes shortly after the appointment of both judges to the special coal scam courts.
Justice Sunaina Sharma assumed charge in January this year. Her appointment followed the Supreme Court's approval of a request by the Delhi High Court to relieve then-presiding judge Sanjay Bansal, who had headed the special coal scam court for nearly four-and-a-half years.
Recommended For You
Dheeraj Mor had been appointed as a special judge in April 2025. While Sharma had served for only around six months, Mor had completed just over a year in the position when the latest request for their transfer was made.
ALSO READ: Supreme Court Bench Strength Set To Increase To 38 After Rajya Sabha Nod; All You Need To Know
Two Judges Appointed as Replacements
The Supreme Court accepted the Delhi High Court's request and approved the removal of Sharma and Mor from their positions as special judges dealing with CBI coal scam cases.
The court also approved the appointment of two judges to replace them. Virender Kumar Kharta, who was previously serving as a special judge of the NDPS court at Saket, will replace Sunaina Sharma.
Ajay Garg, formerly an additional sessions judge at a fast-track court in Tis Hazari, will take over Dheeraj Mor's position.
Following the Supreme Court's approval, the Delhi High Court issued the corresponding transfer and posting orders on Friday. However, neither Sharma nor Mor has been given a new regular judicial posting. According to the notification, both judicial officers have instead been attached to the office of the Principal District and Sessions Judge (Headquarters), CBI.
High Court Issues Directions on Reserved Judgments
The Delhi High Court has also issued specific directions concerning cases in which the two judges had already reserved judgments or orders before leaving charge.
Both officers have been directed to notify the parties concerned about such cases. They must pronounce the reserved judgments on the dates already fixed or, where necessary, within two to three weeks.
According to last year's data, there were 29 pending CBI corruption cases before the two courts, while over 27 cases had already been resolved.