In a forceful address today at the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud rebuked a lawyer for inappropriate courtroom conduct, signaling his determination to maintain judicial decorum until the end of his tenure. The incident occurred during a discussion on an arbitration order, where the lawyer was chastised for querying the court master about the details of the Chief Justice’s directive.
“How dare you ask the court master what I dictated in court? Tomorrow you’ll be at my house, asking my personal secretary what I’m doing. Have lawyers lost all sense?” Justice Chandrachud expressed his disapproval in stark terms. He further emphasized, “I am still in charge, though only for a short time. Don’t try these funny tricks again. These are my last days in the court.”
This episode is part of a series of recent reprimands aimed at maintaining discipline within the courtroom. Justice Chandrachud, who is set to retire on November 10, has been vocal about courtroom ethics throughout his two-year tenure. He has consistently corrected lawyers for bypassing procedures and showing a casual attitude towards the bench.
Earlier this week, he corrected a lawyer for using the casual term “yeah” while addressing the bench, stating firmly, “This is not a coffee shop! What is this ‘yeah yeah’? I am very allergic to this ‘yeah yeah.’ This cannot be allowed.”
In a related incident earlier this year during the crucial hearing of the electoral bonds case, the Chief Justice sharply criticized another lawyer for raising his voice. “Don’t shout at me. This is not a Hyde Park corner meeting; you are in a court. If you want to move an application, file it. You have my decision as Chief Justice, and we are not hearing you. If you want to file an application, move it through email—that’s the rule in this court,” he stated.
