Senior Advocate Ranji Thomas Resigns From SCBA's Executive Committee, Says It 'Failed To Adhere To Basic Democratic Principles'

One of the main reasons mentioned in the letter is that the President and Secretary took various decisions, like writing letters to the Chief Justice of India, under the pretext of the committee's decisions. However, the executive members did not know or have any information about these decisions.

“I have specifically mentioned about various decisions taken by Yourself and the Secretary without convening any meeting of the Executive and writing to the Hon'ble Chief Justice and other Hon'ble Judges, organizing programs as if they were decisions taken in the Executive Committee, when in fact they were decisions taken without the knowledge and information of the Members of the Executive.”, Thomas wrote in a letter sent to SCBA President Dr.Adhish C Aggarwala.

Thomas has now given resignation as he was not willing to continue as, to what he described, a “helpless Member”. Notably, the letter also calls upon the Executive Committee to resign since it has failed to adhere 'to the basic democratic principles' and to discharge the responsibilities entrusted by the Bar members.

“Under the aforesaid circumstances I call upon the Executive Committee headed by you to resign since we have failed to adhere to the basic democratic principles to be followed as an elected committee, in maintaining the dignity of the Bar and in discharging the responsibilities entrusted to us by the Members of the Bar."

"However, to initiate the same, I hereby tender my resignation from the Executive Committee since I do not want to continue as a helpless Member of the present Executive Committee, silently witnessing and becoming a part of it.”

In view of this, he has also requested that the responsibility for fresh elections be handed over to the observers committee constituted by the Supreme Court in its March 08 order, for SCBA's electoral reforms.

“I request the Executive Committee to hand over the responsibility of conducting fresh elections to the Committee appointed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court consisting of Mr. Shekhar Naphade, Mr. V. Giri and Mr. SB Upadhyaya Sr, Advocates appointed as observers by the Hon'ble Court in the interest of the Bar.”

Letters Written To Authorities, Without Committee's Knowledge, Have Seriously Affected Dignity

Thomas has also referred to the latest letter written by Aggarwala to President Droupadi Murmu urging to withhold the enforcement of the Supreme Court's recent verdict striking down the electoral bonds scheme as unconstitutional. In the letter, Aggarwala has requested a presidential reference on the issue. The detailed coverage of this letter can be read here. It may also be noted that following this letter, the Executive Committee unequivocally condemned this act. Not only this but the members had also distanced themselves from Aggarwala's stance.

In this context, Thomas has stated that writing a letter, including the one to the President, without the knowledge of the Executive Committee has seriously affected the SCBA's dignity, independence, and reputation.

Besides this, the letter has drawn attention to the fact that no Executive Committee meeting has been held for the last five months. Further, Thomas has asserted that the President, Secretary and a few other persons have been communicating decisions to the CJI on the pretext of committee meetings.

“I am pained to express that no Executive Committee meeting was held in the last 5 months and You, the Secretary and few persons are taking decisions and communicating to the Hon'ble Chief Justice in the pretext of EC meetings and regularly meeting the Hon'ble Judges and Registry Officials..” the letter states.

Serious Issues Faced By The Members Of The Bar Were Not Attended

In the letter, Thomas also referred to the previous four letters, the latest one on February 20, that he wrote seeking the President's indulgence in various issues, including Bar's day-to-day administration. In her latest letter, he averred that the meeting should be convened to discuss some of the crucial issues. These included the date for the election to constitute the Gender Sensitization Committee and the appointment of the Election Committee to conduct the committee's elections.

Highlighting this, Thomas expressed dismay that no meeting has been conducted, and the President and Secretary are continuing with their “personal agendas” while keeping the Committee in the dark.

“Sadly, till today no meeting of the Executive Committee has been called nor any indication of any meeting has been given so far. In addition to that you and the Secretary are continuing with your own personal agendas and continuously writing letters to various authorities while keeping the Executive Committee in the dark.,” the letter asserted.

The letter also went on to state that this year's main function of the lawyers' body has been organizing felicitation programs, farewell programs, the inauguration of the facilities, and Cricket, Tennis, and Badminton tournaments. Thomas said that while these decisions are important, a collective decision by the Committee is required.

“This year main functioning of the SCBA has come down to organizing felicitation programs and farewell programs for the Hon'ble Judges, inauguration of the facilities graciously provided by the Hon'ble Chief Justice and the Hon'ble Judges Committee, and organizing Cricket, Tennis and Badminton tournaments that too without decisions in the EC. These are important but a collective decision by the Executive have to be taken.”

Finally, it may also be noted that the Committee's tenure will end in the last week of April.