SCBA Executive Committee Resolves To Boycott Inauguration Of Judicial Museum, Reiterates Demand For Bar Library & Lounge Instead

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has resolved to boycott the function scheduled today at 10 AM for the inauguration of a Supreme Court Museum in the vacant space where the Judges' Library used to be.

The inauguration is proposed to be carried out by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.

In a resolution dated November 6, 2024, the majority of the Executive Committee (EC) of the SCBA reiterated its earlier demand that the vacant space in the High-Security Zone of the Supreme Court grounds be allocated to the SCBA to establish a library and cafe/lounge for its members, rather than a museum.

“Therefore, the Supreme Court Bar Association resolves to boycott the said function and further reiterates its demand for allocation of the Vacant Space to the SCBA to set up a Library and cafe/lounge for Bar members and that further all major decisions concerning the Bar and Supreme Court Complex be taken in consultation with the SUPREME COURT BAR ASSOCIATION”, the resolution states.

According to the resolution, despite a unanimous resolution passed on October 24, 2024, requesting the vacant space for a bar library and lounge, the Supreme Court administration has not addressed this demand and scheduled the inauguration of the museum. The SCBA's October resolution was based on the grounds that the Judges' Library is being moved to an additional building complex and that the current cafeteria facilities for bar members are insufficient.

In its resolution, the SCBA Executive Committee has also demanded that the Association be consulted on significant decisions affecting the Supreme Court Complex and its Bar members.

The resolution was signed by the following members – Vice President Rachna Srivastava, Treasurer Sasmita Tripathy, Joint Treasurer Susheel Kumar Tomar, and Senior Advocates Arijit Prasad, Jayant Bhushan, Sanjay M. Nuli, Sonia Mathur, and Shobha Gupta. Other supporting EC members include Vikas Bansal, Nandini Gupta, Mukesh Kumar Singh, Ashish Kumar Sinha, Shashank Shekhar, Anil Nishani, Yogamaya M.G., Jyoti Prasar, and Rachna Gandhi.

SCBA's October 24, 2024 resolution expressed concerns over the emblem and Lady Justice statue unveiled by the President of India on September 1 to commemorate the Supreme Court's 75th anniversary. Traditionally, the statue of Lady Justice is depicted with a blindfold to signify impartiality, yet the new version is not blindfolded and holds a copy of the Constitution of India in place of the customary sword. The SCBA expressed that it had not been informed of these changes or the reasons behind them.

The SCBA had previously stated its opposition to the proposed museum in the High-Security Zone and requested the establishment of a library and lounge area for bar members in the space formerly occupied by the Judges' Library. All 21 members of the SCBA Executive Committee endorsed the October 24, 2024 resolution in support of this demand.