In a significant courtroom exchange today, the Supreme Court chastised an advocate for filing a petition that questioned the impartiality of senior advocate designations, specifically alleging widespread nepotism involving relatives of judges. The court warned of potential contempt proceedings against the petitioner and other petitioners associated with the plea.
The disputed petition calls into question the recent granting of senior advocate status to 70 lawyers at the Delhi High Court, alleging a systemic favoritism toward judges’ relatives within the legal community. It claims that these prestigious titles are disproportionately awarded to members of a few powerful families. In court, it was contended that, “It is difficult if not impossible to find a judge (sitting or retired) of the High Court or Supreme Court whose relatives over the age of 40 have not been designated as senior advocates.”
Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan expressed deep displeasure over the averments, questioning the decision to include such provocative assertions in legal pleadings. They offered an opportunity to amend the contentious parts of the petition, emphasizing the seriousness with which they viewed the accusations against the judiciary.
“Are you going to delete this averment or not? We are not going to spare any petitioner because they have appended their names,” Justice Viswanathan sternly remarked. The court’s strong stance led to some petitioners seeking to withdraw their names from the controversial matter.
During the proceedings, concerns were also voiced about the atmosphere of fear perceived among the Bar towards judges, a comment Justice Gavai criticized for being more theatrical than substantive. “This is a court of law. Not a boat club or a maidan in Bombay to make speeches,” Justice Gavai admonished.
The controversy further deepened when it was revealed that one of the committee members responsible for the senior advocate designations, a senior advocate, resigned, alleging that the final list was approved without his consent.
