Would discuss lawyer chambers land allocation with government: SC 2023
Friday, the Supreme Court announced that it will discuss the matter of land allocation for attorney offices with the administration.
The Supreme Court heard a petition from the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) to convert 1.33 acres of property given to the Supreme Court for the building of attorneys’ chambers.
A three-judge panel led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud questioned SCBA president Vikas Singh on how a court order could be issued to seize land for the allocation of chambers.
“Attorneys are a part of us…. But can we utilize our own judicial authority to protect our own citizens? It appears that the Supreme Court is using its judicial authority to fulfill its own purposes….
“We must have faith that the court will address the administrative issues with the administration. The bench, which also included justices SK Kaul and PS Narasimha, stated that the government must not be given the impression that they may be overthrown by court rulings.
The CJI stated that the government interacts with the highest court on an administrative level and that the problem might be referred to it.
“For instance, the government allocated us Rs 7,000 crore for the e-courts initiative because they believed we needed money,” the bench remarked.
Singh thanked the judge on behalf of the entire legal community.
“We are incredibly thankful. “The entire bar is with the institution, and whatever of the outcome of this case, we will not do anything to harm the institution’s grandeur,” he added.
Nevertheless, the president of the SCBA expressed concern that the bar and other stakeholders would not be included in such administrative dialogue.
Singh, referring to the Delhi High Court’s acquisition of property for expansion, encouraged the apex court to adopt a similar strategy.
The Supreme Court Advocate on Record Association (SCAORA) want to participate in the hearings and weigh in on the matter.
Meenakshi Arora, senior counsel for the SCAORA, stated that a number of attorneys on file require chambers.
Manan Kumar Mishra, chairman of the Bar Council of India, said that room is required for the bar body.
Attorney General R Venkataramani stated that the matter will benefit from administrative freedom.
“Discussions on the administrative side may go a long way. On the judicial side, I may lose my neutrality as a mediator,” he remarked.
After hearing the arguments, the highest court deferred ruling.