In an unprecedented event that will turn heads away from the courtrooms and towards the cricket pitch, Delhi is set to host a unique sporting event this Sunday where judges and lawyers will exchange legal briefs for cricket bats. The event marks the debut of the first-ever Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record (SCAORA) 20 overs white ball limited Cricket League.
Leading the legal luminaries on the field will be none other than the Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, who will captain a team of sitting Supreme Court and High Court judges. Facing them will be the formidable SCAORA XI, captained by SCAORA President Vipin Nair and helmed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta in a non-playing capacity.
This novel encounter is scheduled to kick off at 4:30 PM under the floodlights, promising a day filled with excitement and competitive spirit. The match is not only a sporting event but also a symbolic gathering of the judiciary and the bar in a friendly but competitive environment.
The league itself features eight teams, each owned by a designated Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court. These teams, led by prominent figures such as Dama Seshadri Naidu, PB Suresh, and Sajan Poovayya, among others, will compete in a series of matches, showcasing their prowess not in legal arguments but in cricketing shots and strategies.
Adding to the grandeur of the occasion, the inaugural match will be telecast live, having secured special permissions from the BCCI and the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA). This initiative, conceived by the core team of SCAORA, including Vipin Nair (President), Amit Sharma (Vice-President), Nikhil Jain (Secretary), and Kaustabh Shukla (Assistant Secretary), aims to provide a refreshing break from the strenuous demands of legal professions.
“Sporting events like the Cricket League promise to be a welcome break for both the judges and the AoRs from their usual serious work schedules and are a continuation of innovative events being introduced by the current SCAORA Executive Committee,” said Nair in a recent press release.
