"We Are Well As Of Now, But Don't Know What Tests Will Say, Forced To Sit Separately": CJI SA Bobde

While adjourning a petition seeking stay on the ongoing reclamation work of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project, Chief Justice SA Bobde said that since most judges are sitting apart on account of impending test reports, the bench will not take up the case.

Before a bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde, Justices AS Bopanna & V. Ramasubramaniun, Senior Advocate Harish Salve was about to begin his submissions, when the CJI told him that they were in a "difficulty today" as they had been forced to sit apart. 

"Most of us are sitting separately," said the Chief Justice of India.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that he had noticed that and hoped that all was well with the judges.

"We are fine as of now but we have been asked to sit seperately as a matter of precaution," replied CJI Bobde

CJI also added that till now they were fine but he "doesn't know yet" and that the matter may further be adjourned, depending on the results.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi at this juncture stated that in that case, the case be adjourned after two weeks.

When Senior Advocate Shyam Divan said that the reclamation work is going on enormously and sought an adjournment only by a week.

To this, CJI replied that, "If you're looking to have it next week, we don't know, the thing is we don't know, don't worry we will take care of it" he added.

On February 25, the CJI led bench had refused to stay the reclamation work on submissions by Divan wherein he had asserted that the ongoing reclamation work being done by the authorities surpassed the earlier order of the Supreme Court in order dated 17th December 2019 which had, in effect insinuated a curb on carrying out any development work. The Court had instead sought response from the stakeholders on the plea.