Farewell To CJI Khehar- Dignity Of Judiciary Comes Down When Senior Lawyers Attack Judges: AG K K Venugopal

“It is reprehensible. Lawyers can throw bricks at judges. But judges, sitting in their position cannot throw them back. It is wrong to use intemperate language against judges. It is reprehensible and brings down the confidence of the general public in the justice delivery system. It is a great disservice to the judiciary”, Attorney General K K Venugopal

The function held at the Supreme Court organized by SCBA to give farewell to outgoing Chief Justice J S Khehar today became a venue where there was  severe condemnation of the strong remarks made recently by a senior lawyer against CJI  Khehar.

Attorney General K K Venugopal, SCBA Secretary Gaurav Bhatia and SCBA President R S Suri took serious note of the remarks without taking names but it was clear that they were referring to Senior advocate and distinguished jurist Rajeev Dhavan.

He had  in his column uploaded on online portal expressed a strongly worded anguish against Justice J.S.Khehar and termed him “arguably one of the worst Chief Justices of India. Among the least distinguished Chief Justices of India, his term must rank among the lowest”.

“It is reprehensible. Lawyers can throw bricks at judges. But judges, sitting in their position cannot throw them back. It is wrong to use intemperate language against judges. It is reprehensible and brings down the confidence of the general public in the justice delivery system. It is a great disservice to the judiciary”, Venugopal said without naming the senior lawyer. Suri echoed the view and said such conduct by “self-concerned and self-opinionated individuals for whom if there is no way, it is the highway, needed to be condemned”

Speaking on the issue, Bhatia said  SCBA will not tolerate the habit of any advocate browbeating any judge or lawyer.

“We don’t want anybody to give character certificates. The only certificate that counts is the certificate of Supreme Court Bar Association – the 15,000 lawyers who revere the institution. I wish to say that the role of the SCBA starts with protecting the institution. Institution means the judiciary, institution means the lawyers. I have already said that this Bar would stand up to any individual who would try to say unsavoury things without the approval of the SCBA and the lawyers who are part of it.”, he said in his speech.

“JUSTICE KHEHAR WILL CONTINUE TO BE WITH US”

Venugopal meanwhile hinted that CJI Khehar will doing a very important post retirement job

 “A little bird told me that he (CJI Khehar)  is not going anywhere but will continue to be with us, but in a different avatar”,  Venugopal said.

When his turn came, Chief Justice-designate Justice Dipak Misra said “I have been telling him for sometime you enjoy the luxury of rest. But I know him very well. Justice Khehar is not going to rest. He will not allow himself to rest as he will feel restlessness while resting. He will choose his own path. Work is pleasure for him”