"Will Not Let Myself Be Brow Beaten By Bar Members": CJI DY Chandrachud Admonishes SCBA President Vikas Singh

On March 2, 2023, a heated exchange occurred between the Chief Justice of India Dr DY Chandrachud, and the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, regarding the listing of the petition to convert the land measuring 1.33 acres that was allotted to the Supreme Court into chamber blocks for lawyers.

The matter has long been in contention with Singh even writing a letter to CJI DY Chandrachud for listing and hearing the matter urgently as it pertained to the "lives and livelihoods" of the SCBA members. Through the letter, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh had said that he hoped that SCBA was not forced to resort to protesting due to not being treated as an ordinary litigant, and being given an unfair treatment by not being given its due importance. Before that, he had also written to former CJI UU Lalit regarding allocation of additional land to SCBA. 

When Singh did not get an urgent listing of the matter today, he got into a heated exchange with the CJI and said that he didn't wish to escalate the matter and take it to the judges' residents. 

CJI DY Chandrachud admonished Singh and said–

"Don't threaten the Chief Justice. Is it a way to behave? I will not be cowered down by you. Sit down. Please leave the court."

However, Singh expressed his strong feelings on the matter, stating that lawyers have been waiting for 20 years to be allotted chambers and the court had not yet listed it despite repeated mentionings. CJI DY Chandrachud said–

"Please don't raise your voice. As the President of SCBA, you should be a mentor and leader to the bar. You're asking for a land allotted to the SC to be given to the bar under Article 32. We will deal with the matter when it comes. Please don't twist our arm. I have made my decision. It will be taken on 17th March and it will not be first on board."

To this, Singh said–

"Just because the bar doesn't do anything doesn't mean it should be taken for granted. I feel strongly for this. 20 years lawyers have been waiting to be allotted chambers."

CJI Chandrachud asserted that he would not be cowered down and would be treating Singh as an ordinary litigant. He said–

"Mr Singh, I am the Chief Justice of India. I have been on the bench for long. I have never allowed myself to be brow beaten by bar members or litigants and I will not let it happen in the final 2 years of my tenure. You will be treated as an ordinary litigant. Please sort out your agendas outside of courtroom."

Later, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal apologised to the bench on behalf of the bar and said–

"I'm sorry for what happened this morning. I don't think that the bar should transgress the limits of decorum."

This is not the first time that Singh has been admonished by members of the bench. “Don't tell me practice, I'll decide what practice happens in my court,” CJI DY Chandrachud had earlier orally remarked, irked by the submissions of Singh seeking listing of a case. Even Justice Dinesh Maheshwari had expressed displeasure at his conduct in raising an "unnecessary" objection about the order of hearing of cases in the court. A bench of Justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar had also expressed unhappiness with Singh, sternly stating that while Mr. Singh "may be the President", he must not "raise his voice" and "try to browbeat the Court".