Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud recently delivered a stern warning to a lawyer amidst a heated discussion on the scheduling of a petition. In a remarkable display of dissatisfaction, Justice Chandrachud rebuked the advocate for his manner and cautioned against any attempts to intimidate the court.
The Chief Justice, visibly irked, intervened in the heated debate, demanding a more respectful and composed approach from the lawyer. “One second, lower your voice. You’re arguing before the first court of the Supreme Court of India; lower your pitch, otherwise, I will have you removed from the Court,” the CJI rebuked.
CJI Chandrachud further questioned the manners of the advocate by asking him about his places of appearance, “Where do you normally appear? Is this the way you shout at judges every time?”
Continuing his firm stance, the senior-most SC judge reminded the lawyer of the etiquette of the august court, emphasizing, “Please lower your pitch first. If you think you can browbeat us by raising your voice, you’re mistaken. It has not happened in 23 years; it will not happen in the last year of my career.”
The lawyer, taken aback by the CJI’s remarks, promptly sought an apology and proceeded with the hearing in a more courteous manner.
This incident isn’t an isolated one in the Supreme Court. Instances of lawyers overstepping the decorum have been reported before from various courts in the country, including the highest court.
According to an NDTV report, Chief Justice Chandrachud strongly objected on another occasion when a lawyer was casually talking on a mobile phone inside the courtroom. “Is this a market that you are talking on the phone? Confiscate his mobile phone,” Justice Chandrachud had stated firmly.
In a dramatic episode in March, Justice Chandrachud allegedly raised his voice while admonishing a senior advocate Vikas Singh during a hearing of a land-related matter. “Keep quiet. Leave this court right now. You cannot cower us down!” scolded the CJI.
Dhairya Saraswat