‘Reckless criticism’ against CJI: BCI slaps show-cause notice on Dushyant Dave

CHENNAI: Caustic remarks made against Chief Justice of India Dipak Mishra by the former president of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Dushyant Dave, has landed the latter in trouble, as the Bar Council of India has slapped a show-cause notice on him.

Dave had written against the apex collegium after Justice Jayant Patel had tendered his resignation protesting his transfer from the Karnataka high court to the Allahabad high court. The resignation has triggered an uproar in the legal fraternity, and the Gujarat High Court Advocates Association has announced a series of agitations in support of Justice Patel.

The BCI, while clarifying that it stood with Gujarat Bar in legal proceedings, "baseless comments and statement of Dave on television yesterday (Wednesday) is an attempt to malign the image of judiciary and the institution."

Describing Dave's criticism as smacking of personal criticism, the BCI said on Thursday: "The personal attack smacks of some personal vendetta against the Chief Justice of India, which amounts to gross misconduct."

The BCI had taken a serious note of Dave's 'derogatory comments and reckless remarks' against Chief Justice of India Mishra, the BCI said, adding: "The council has decided to issue show-cause notice to Dave for such gross misconduct and has asked him to file his reply within four weeks. The council will take further actions after receipt of his reply to the notice."