Don’t threaten, leave my court: CJI to SCBA prez

New Delhi: A heated exchange of words was witnessed in the Supreme Court on Thursday between Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Vikas Singh in a case related to allotment of land for lawyers’ chambers with the CJI directing the senior lawyer not to raise his voice and leave the court.

During the mentioning of cases, the SCBA president told a bench of CJI and justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala that he was struggling to get the matter listed for the last six months. “The Appu Ghar land came to the Supreme Court on a petition by the SCBA and the Bar was given only one block with reluctance. The construction on the land was to begin during ex-CJI N V Ramana’s tenure. For the last six months, we are struggling to get the matter listed. Treat me like an ordinary litigant,” Singh said.

The CJI then remarked, “You can’t demand land like this. You tell us the day we are sitting idle for the whole day.”

To this, Singh replied, “I am not saying that you are sitting idle for the whole day. I am only trying to get the matter listed. If it is not done, I will have to escalate and take it to your lordships’ residence. I don’t want the Bar to be taken like this.”

Chandrachud then got agitated and said, “Don’t threaten the chief justice. Is this a way to behave? Please sit down. It will not be listed like this. Please leave my court. I will not list like this. I will not be cowered down by you.”

“Mr Vikas Singh, please don’t raise your voice. As a president, you should be mentor and leader to the Bar. I am sorry, you are reducing the level of dialogue. You have filed an Article 32 petition, claiming that the land allotted to the Supreme Court should be handed over to the Bar for construction of chambers. We will deal with the matter when it comes. Please don’t try and twist our arm to give you the relief you want,” the CJI said.

“You are asking for a land allotted to the SC to be given to the Bar. I have announced my decision. It will be taken on 17th and it will not be first on board,” he added.

The SCBA president said, “If my lords want to dismiss it, please do it. But don’t do that it is not listed.”

The CJI replied, “I have announced my verdict. It’s on March 17 and it will not be listed at serial number 1, Mr Singh.”

The senior lawyer refused to slow down and said the Bar has always supported the court.

“I never want to be unreasonable but I am forced to do so in this case,” he said.