This Is A Temple Of Justice, Nobody Should Have Apprehension: Telangana HC Chief Justice Almost Recuses Himself From A Case

The Telangana High Court today saw the wrath of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe following a comment made by an advocate, that seemed to raise questions regarding the credibility of the Court.

"We will recuse then. No no you are saying that 'it will reflect on the case'. See in fact, this is contempt, telling a judge it will reflect on the case, when the judge has not done anything. We do not want to hear lawyers who don’t have faith in this Court."

The advocates including Senior Counsel and Government Pleader Harender Pershad and Senior Counsel A.Venkatesh, representing other parties in the matter tried to pacify the situation, to which Chief Justice Aradhe replied,

"See what happens is, supposing, right now we don't know what the case is because it has come up on vacating stay petition... but supposing, we hear the matter and decide against him, I don’t know, he will think it has adversely reflected on the case, only if it is allowed, he will think that 'no no judge has not let my comment affect the case.' "

The lawyer profusely apologized to the Bench, saying that what he had said was misunderstood and that he never meant even the slightest disrespect to the Court. He stated he had been practicing for over 30 years and never had he been involved in an incident like this.

To which Chief Justice Aradhe replied, "even I have been a judge for 14 years, never has any lawyer told me 'let it not affect on the case' , even though I was much harsher in Bangalore. I am not hearing this case for my satisfaction. I am here only, you will have other cases before me, you yourself will find out if I have 'let it reflect on other cases'."

The Chief Justice further added, "Thank you for giving me compliment I have not received in 14 years. Everyday is a new experience and we must learn from it."

It all started when the Chief Justice was hearing an appeal moved by the Wakf Board and its Mutawalli against order of a single judge which allowed the writ petitions filed by Occupants/ Protected Tenants, challenging the notification issued by the Board notifying the land in question as Wakf Property.

Counsel on behalf of the Wakf Board requested time on the ground that the Board was going to engage a Senior counsel from Delhi. The Bench humorously responded the counsel was trying to threaten the bench by letting them know that 'counsels from Delhi' were going to get involved.

"We don’t want to know location" the Bench replied. To which the lawyer on behalf of the Wafq Board said "let my comment not reflect on the case."

After seriously warning the lawyer, the Bench accepted his apology and posted the matter to be heard finally on 30th October.

"Nobody should have that apprehension. No person who comes to Court...This is a temple of justice. Nobody should have that apprehension. You have that apprehension, that your behaviour will reflect on the case," the CJ said during the hearing.