New Delhi: Supreme Court judge Justice Arun Mishra on Thursday said he would "apologise a hundred times" with "folded hands" if anybody is hurt by his words, two days after he had warned a senior lawyer of contempt action while hearing land acquisition matter.
Justice Mishra's remarks came after a battery of senior lawyers led by Kapil Sibal, Mukul Rohatgi, A M Singhvi, Dushyant Dave and Supreme Court Bar Association President Rakesh Khanna requested him to be patient in dealing with them during the course of judicial proceedings.
"If I have hurt anybody, I not only apologise but I will give 'dandavat' apology a hundred times," Justice Mishra said, adding: "If anybody has felt anything at any point of time, with folded hands, I am apologising".
He further said: "I am more associated with the bar. From me, you can take it that the bar is the mother of the bench. I respect the bar like anything. From the core of my heart, I am saying that please do not have that impression in your mind."
Justice Mishra, who heads a 5-judge Constitution
bench hearing land acquisition matters, warned senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan on Tuesday of contempt while he was advancing his arguments.
The lawyers mentioned the issue on Thursday as soon as the bench of justices Arun Mishra and M R Shah assembled in court number three for the day's proceedings.