"Don't Try These Tricks To Get Matter Off My Bench, My Conscience Is Clear": Justice Chandrachud Warns Counsel

Supreme Court judge Justice DY Chandrachud on Monday took strong objection to a lawyer "trying tricks" to get a matter off his Bench and warned him against it.

While seeking an adjournment before a Bench comprising Justice Chandrachud and Justice Surya Kant in the present case, the counsel appearing for the petitioner mentioned a senior counsel's name who used to appear for one of the petitioners.

This however did not sit well with Justice Chandrachud, who remarked that the counsel decided to take the name of the senior counsel(  who is related to Justice Chandrachud) only to get the matter off his Bench.

Seemingly irked with the counsel's submission, Justice Chandrachud further said that his conscience is clear, and he will not get the matter off his Bench.

"Anyway the senior counsel isn't appearing now right? Then why are you mentioning his name to get the matter off my bench! I'm not getting this matter off my bench. You argue the matter. Don't try these tricks with me, my conscience is clear, I'll hear the matter", Justice Chandrachud remarked.

During the hearing today, Senior Advocate Vijay Hansaria appearing for the respondents informed the court that the petitioner has circulated a letter seeking adjournment and which is being opposed by the respondent as the petitioner has been circulating letters since the last two hearings.

He submitted that there's an ex parte interim Order against the respondent and there was a decree in his favour in 2000.

The Bench noted that according to the respondent's counter affidavit, the petitioner had raised the same objections as raised in the present special leave petition before the Executing court which had been rejected, and had therefore attained finality. However , this information  had been suppressed from the Supreme Court.

"It is a case of frivolous litigation to be dismissed with exemplary costs. I'm 91 years old fighting litigation for 30 years and they are circulating adjournment letters",Mr Hansaria said

The Counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that an adjournment is being sought as on the last occasion the petitioner has requested for a time of 4 weeks time but the case has been listed after 2 weeks.

The Bench then asked the petitioner to respond to why the petitioner has raised the same objections in the present special leave petition, which have already been rejected by the Executing Court.

The Counsel for the petitioner then sought time to take instructions in that regard, which was allowed by the Bench.