A sharp exchange unfolded in the Supreme Court on Monday when Chief Justice of India BR Gavai pulled up Advocate Mathews J Nedumpara for repeatedly referring to Justice Yashwant Varma simply as “Varma” during court proceedings.
Nedumpara was mentioning for urgent listing his writ petition seeking registration of an FIR against Justice Varma, who is embroiled in controversy after cash was reportedly found at his official residence. This was Nedumpara’s third petition in the matter.
As Nedumpara argued, “Now Varma seems to be asking for that only. There has to be an FIR, an investigation,” CJI Gavai interjected firmly.
“Is he your friend? He is still Justice Varma. How do you address him? Have some decorum. You are referring to a learned judge. He is still a judge of the Court,” CJI Gavai told Nedumpara.
But Nedumpara shot back, “I don’t think that greatness can apply to him. Matter has to be listed.” To this, CJI Gavai curtly responded, “Don’t dictate to the Court.”
Nedumpara’s first writ petition, filed in March, was dismissed by the Supreme Court, which noted that the in-house inquiry was ongoing. He filed another petition after the then CJI Sanjiv Khanna forwarded the inquiry report to the President and Prime Minister. In May, the Court disposed of that petition as well, advising Nedumpara to first approach the Central Government for the FIR.
