The Supreme Court Bar Association Executive Committee has decided for holding a Special General Body Meeting on Thursday, March 16, at 4:00 PM on the Supreme Court Lawns for considering to pass a resolution for expressing solidarity with its President, the Senior Advocate Vikas Singh.
Another point that the meeting was likely to consider would be a resolution seeking explanation from Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Neerak Kishan Kaul, who had apologised to the CJI for Singh’s statements in the Apex Court.
Last week, the Courtroom No. 1 of the Apex Court saw some heated exchange between CJI Chandrachud and SCBA President & Senior Advocate Vikas Singh.
The argument and verbal dialogue began soon after the SCBA president mentioned a case regarding land for lawyers’ chambers, and sought an urgent hearing.
The CJI agreed to list the case on March 17. Singh further sought that the case be listed as item number 1.
On March 2, Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud had come down heavily on President of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Vikas Singh for repeated insistence on listing of the petition that sought a direction to the Ministry of Urban Development to convert the entire land measuring 1.33 acres that was allotted to the Supreme Court into chamber blocks for lawyers.
Senior Advocate Singh repeatedly insisted on urgent listing of the plea before a Bench led by the CJI, contending that the matter had not been listed for six previous hearings and the same happened today as well.
The CJI told Singh that it would be listed in the ordinary course, however, the SCBA chief threatened to escalate the matter and even suggested visiting the residence of the CJI over the same.
Justice Chandrachud then raised his voice and ordered Singh to leave the court immediately. He asserted that the Senior Advocate could not expect the Bench to be cowered down.
The CJI further said that he had never let himself be browbeaten by the Bar and would not let this happen in the final two years of his career. He then told Singh to pursue his ‘political agendas’ outside the court hall.
He further reminded Singh that the SCBA chief was asking for land allotted to the Supreme Court to be given to lawyers under Article 32. Justice Chandrachud then announced that the matter would be listed on March 17, but not as item one.
Soon after the incident, Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Neeraj Kishan Kaul expressed regret over the heated exchange.
Sibal, who appeared before the Bench in another matter, apologised for Singh’s behaviour. He said he was sorry for what happened this morning, adding that the Bar should not transgress the limits of decorum.
The judges then shared that they hear over 70 mentionings every day. The CJI said that after hearing these mentionings, the Bench would sit though the evenings and give dates.
Senior Advocate Kaul said the Bar jointly apologised for the incident. He said the Bar was very very sad. It felt equally anguished and hurt by what happened in the morning, he added.