Justice Chandrachud Shows The Mirror To lawyers.
~ Prof. Neelam Mahajan Singh ~
Recently the comment made by advocate Vikas Singh to the Chief Justice of India, in the Supreme Court is unpardonable. Before I pen down any more; I would like to inform that apart from journalism, I am also a Solicitor (probono) for human rights protection. Chief Justice Mehar Chand Mahajan, Justice Raja Jaswant Singh, Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice A.S. Anand, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice C.K. Mahajan, Justice Anil Dev Singh, Justice Vidya Bhushan Gupta, Justice Bharat Bhushan and many lawyers and barristers are from my family. The life of a judge is not that easy! I have seen that it is not an easy task to maintain social exclusion in personal life. Intelligence agencies also keep a close vigilance on them.
Justice A.S. Anand and 'Green Judge' Justice Kuldeep Singh took tough stand in the 'Hindustan Times contempt of court case'. Editor Chandan Mitra, had written in his column in the Hindustan Times, "Supreme Court judges need psychiatric treatment"! He had to pay dearly for this mindless and sweeping statement. Every citizen knows that the profession of lawyers is to get justice and to present the facts correctly before the court. 50 % lawyers work on fact and legal probabilities. The other 50% are hypothetical and falsehood. One of my friends who is a judge of the Delhi High Court once said, "When some lawyers appear before us, we know what's the truth and lies. I listen silently and go into my chamber to a painkilling pills"! In the profession of lawyers, taking heavy fees from their clients bothers the citizens. Lawyers earn billions of rupees in corporate war. It's not without earning in trillions that Vikas Singh has purchased a bungalow, in Delhi's posh area; Jor-Bagh. Well, it would be fair to say that the 'Bar Associations and Bar Councils' try to build amiable 'Bar-Bench' relations. However most Bar Associations have become aggressive like 'Trade Unions. Judges also should not 'play to the gallery'. Advocate Vikas Singh's behavior in the court of Justice Dhananjay Yashwant Chandrachud is highly condemnable.
If Vikas Singh has any shame then he should resign from SCBA. Shamelessness at its peak! Scholars like Justice Dhananjay Yashwant Chandrachud, internationally renowned, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India are our pride. Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Neeraj Krishna Kaul have tendered an apology on behalf of the 'Bar', following a heated exchange between CJI Chandrachud and SCBA President Vikas Singh. Sibal and Kaul expressed deep regret to Chief Justice of India D. Y. Chandrachud. Sibal said, "I apologize for what happened. I don't think the Bar should cross the line of decency. We all apologise." The incident happened while mentioning the Supreme Court land allotment by Ministry of Urban Development. Vikas Singh insisted on urgent listing of the hearing. On March 17, 2023 this case is is anyway on the list. So what was your hurry Vikas Singh?
Efforts are being made to convert 1.33 acres of land allotted to the Supreme Court into a 'Chamber Block'. Singh hit the CJI's nerve and said, "I don't want to take this to the judges' residence." Justice Dhananjay Yashwant Chandrachud was deeply offended by this remark and blasted Vikas Singh. Justice Chandrachud said, "I will not be afraid like this, please lower your voice. I am the Chief Justice of India. I have been on the bench for a long time. I never let the members of the bar bother me. I will not allow this to happen in the last 2 years of my life". Justice Chandrachud said, "We hear more than 70 cases every day and after hearing these things, we sit down. Although dates are given in the evening". Neeraj Kaul said, "We all apologize jointly. We are very sad. We are equally pained and hurt by what happened." This is not the first time that Vikas Singh has been reprimanded by Supreme Court of India. CJI D. Y. Chandrachud had earlier verbally remarked, "don't tell me what I have to do. I will decide what happens in my court." Justice Dinesh Maheshwari also expressed displeasure over his conduct of raising "unnecessary" objections about the order of hearing of cases in the court. Justices M.R. Shah and a division bench of Justice C.T. Ravikumar have also expressed displeasure over Vikas Singh's behaviour saying, "Mr. Singh should not raise his voice and should not try to intimidate the court". In retrospect it is true to say, "Shame on you Vikas Singh! You earned a lot of wealth but could not become an ideal lawyer! You are not a role model for new generation"! Judges are working within the purview of the Constitution of India. If anyone has any objection to the orders, then there's a judicial process. Judiciary It is an important pillar of democracy. Attempts to bring down the dignity of the Supreme Court of India for personal gain is sheer cowardice. Supreme Court Bar Association has to be disbanded by taking Vikas Singh's resignation. Fresh elections should be held and a new president should be elected again. Otherwise there could be unfortunate consequences for Vikas Singh to continue as Bar President.
Prof: Neelam Mahajan Singh
(Senior Journalist, Doordarshan Personality and Solicitor for Human Rights Protection )
singhnofficial@gmail.com
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