Indore: ‘Whatever happened should not have happened’

Indore: Former High Court judges and senior advocates of city expressed concern and disappointment after four sitting judges of the Supreme Court held an unprecedented press conference over allocation of cases in the top judiciary on Friday.

Most of them while talking to Free Press stated that the judges should not have gone to media to raise their issues, if there were any. Instead, they should have resolved the issue by talking to CJI.
Some of them stated that if the judges have failed to “convince” the CJI, like what they had said in the press conference, they should have approached the President as he is constitutionally the head.’

Whatever happened should not have happened. I think instead of talking to media persons, the four judges should have approached the President and appraised him about the state of affairs as he constitutionally is the head. Don’t know who advised them to go to media. I was also surprised by the fact that they were holding press conference during court hour which is not permitted. The whole episode was not good in taste. However, I also think that time has come that distribution of court work should be regulated by the rules and it should not be left up to the CJI to decide who will take up which case
VS Kokje, Former Chief Justice, Rajasthan High Court

The entire incident was very unfortunate. What were the grievances of the four judges were not known through the media. It seems that they were unhappy over award of important cases to their juniors. Under the law, the CJI is the master of roaster. If there was any issue, the judges should have tried to meet CJI to resolve their problem instead of going to the media and saying that democracy was in danger. What democracy has to do with which judge has been awarded what case? I repeat, if there was any dispute it should have been resolved in the chamber of the CJI itself
Ramesh Garg, Former Chief Justice, Rajasthan High Court

As a person associated with judiciary, I feel devastated. Supreme Court should act as a whole. It should be ensured that dignity of each judge is protected. There can be difference of opinions but there can’t be dispute on issues which are of procedural in nature. If there was any issue, the judges should have sat down with the CJI and resolve the issue. It was unfortunate to see senior judges going in public domain with their grievances. The CJI should rethink on the issue and invite them and find out a system in which everybody’s dignity is protected. The government should not intervene into the matter
Anand Mohan Mathur, Senior advocate

The incident was unfortunate. It was black day in the history of Indian judiciary to see four judges going to media raising concern over administration of the judicial affairs. Whatever was the issue, it should have been resolved within the corridors of the court through dialogue. There was no need for taking the issue to public via media. The incident has set in general depression among stakeholders of judiciary and led to decline of faith in the system. It will take long to restore the faith of people in the system
Vinay Jhelawat, Senior advocate