Sr Advs Kapil Sibal, Neeraj Kaul Apologise For Bar Following Heated Exchange Between CJI Chandrachud And SCBA Prez Vikas Singh

Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Neeraj Kishan Kaul have expressed regret over the heated exchange that broke out today between Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and President of SCBA Vikas Singh.

"I'm sorry for what happened this morning. I don't think that bar should transgress the limits of decorum. We all apologize," Sibal said.

The incident occurred during mentioning of the SCBA land allotment issue in the Supreme Court. Singh insisted urgent listing of the petition seeking a direction to the Ministry of Urban Development to convert the entire land measuring 1.33 acres that was allotted to the Supreme Court into chamber blocks for lawyers. "I don't want to take this to the judges' resident," Singh said, hitting the CJI's nerve.

"I will not be cowered down like this...Please don't raise your voice...I am the Chief Justice of India. I have been on the bench for long. I have never let myself be brow beaten by bar members and I will not let it happen in the final 2 years of my life," an upset CJI remarked.

When Sibal, appearing before the bench in another matter, he apologised for Singh's behaviour, the judges shared that they hear over 70 mentionings every day. "And after hearing these mentionings, we sit though the evening with the staff to give dates," the CJI said.

"We all jointly apologise. We are very very sad. We feel equally anguished and hurt by what happened," NK Kaul said.

This is not the first time that Singh has been admonished by members of the bench.