Supreme Court Rift: Bar Association Expresses ‘Grave Concern’, Seeks Full Court Hearing

The Supreme Court Bar Association today passed a resolution saying the differences of four senior most judges with Chief Justice Dipak Misra should be considered by the full bench of the apex court.

Expressing “grave concern” over the differences between the senior judges and the Chief Justice of India, SCBA President and Senior Advocate Vikas Singh said that all public interest litigations should be looked into either by the CJI or senior judges who form part of the apex court Collegium.

Taking note of the concerns raised by four senior judges led by Justice J Chelameswar over assigning of cases, the bar body suggested that even PILs listed for hearing on Jan. 15 be transferred from other benches to either the bench headed by the CJI or benches led by the members of the Collegium.

Singh said that at the emergency executive meeting, grave concern was expressed over the differences between the four judges and the CJI.

Also Read: Supreme Court Judges' Letter To Chief Justice Of India: Full Text

Yesterday, justices Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, MB Lokur and Jurian Joseph had mounted a virtual revolt against the Chief Justice, listing a litany of problems including the assigning of cases.

The judges had said that there were certain issues afflicting the country's highest court and warned that they could destroy Indian democracy.

The unprecedented news conference had left the judiciary and observers stunned, leaving uncertain how this open dissension in the hallowed institution would be resolved.

Also Read: Nine Controversies That Have Blotted Indian Judiciary In The Past