New Delhi, Sep 2 (IANS)
Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Dushyant Dave has written to Chief Justice S.A. Bobde expressing disappointment for not being asked to speak at the farewell of Justice Arun Mishra.
Dave in the letter said: “I must confess, the Supreme Court has come to such levels where the judges are afraid of the Bar. Please do remember, Judges come and go but we the Bar remain constant. We are the real strength of this great Institution because we are permanent.” Dave complained there was a “game plan” for not letting him speak, as a result he was disconnected several times during the virtual farewell of Justice Mishra.
Dave said after the court’s proceedings, the Attorney General was requested to speak and he heard him fully including his disappointment on the punishment for Prashant Bhushan. “When he ended, I thought that I will be requested to speak, instead Jadhav (president Supreme Court Advocate on Record Association) was requested knowing full well I was present. For some unknown reasons, I was being disconnected again and again but I persisted and re-joined each time”, said the letter.
Dave said after the Chief Justice spoke, which he saw and heard, Justice Mishra was invited to speak. “At that stage realising the game plan, I exited in the larger interests of the dignity of the Bar and myself”, added Dave.
The senior lawyer in the letter said: “The entire episode leaves much to be desired on the part of this great Institution. The whole attempt was to prevent me from addressing on behalf of the SCBA and its EC, after having invited and invitation having been accepted. This was clearly an affront to the Bar and to me personally.”
Dave said he is deeply saddened by these events and he will never again participate in any function being organised by the Supreme Court till his term is over in December. “As President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, I wish to place on record my strong disappointment and condemnation at what happened earlier today in the Supreme Court of India during the farewell to Justice Arun Mishra”, said Dave.
In the letter, Dave also wrote a message for Justice Mishra. “I wish you Justice Mishra happiness and bliss in the remainder of your long life which by all accounts will be as fruitful and rewarding as it has been. May I pray to Lord Mahabaleshwar to bless you with strength to introspect and stir up your conscience”, he said.
–IANS/
–ss/ash