New Delhi: Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud admonished a lawyer on Monday, urging him to speak in a lower tone during a Supreme Court hearing. The incident occurred during a session involving a bench consisting of CJI Chandrachud and Justices Manoj Misra and JB Pardiwala. They were reviewing the case concerning the rape and murder of a junior doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, which took place on August 9 and has led to widespread protests across the country, NDTV reported.
CJI rebukes lawyer
During the hearing, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the West Bengal government, claimed to have videos and photos showing the lawyer involved in stone-throwing at a protest related to the crime. This accusation prompted lawyer Kaustav Bagchi, who is also affiliated with the BJP, to question how a senior counsel like Sibal could make such allegations in court.
In response, CJI Chandrachud said, “To this, the chief justice of India, retorted, saying: “Are you trying to address the gallery outside the court? I have been noticing your demeanour for the last two hours.”
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CJI Chandrachud further cautioned the lawyer to lower his voice during the proceedings. “Can you first lower your pitch? Listen to the Chief Justice, lower your pitch. You are addressing three judges in front of you, not the large audience who is watching these proceedings on the video conferencing platform,” the chief justice was quoted as saying by NDTV.
Lawyer apologises
Following the exchange, Bagchi apologised to the court. Later in the hearing, the chief justice expressed his disappointment, stating that he is not accustomed to multiple lawyers arguing simultaneously. “I am not used to this kind of advocacy where 7-8 people are arguing at the same time,” he said.
SC’s warning to protesting doctors
During Monday’s hearing, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud addressed the ongoing doctors’ protest following the rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. He said that protests cannot be allowed to disrupt professional duties.
The Supreme Court, which is hearing the case on its own motion, said that if the protesting doctors do not resume their duties, it would not be able to prevent the West Bengal government from taking disciplinary measures against them.
