Don't threaten, leave my court: CJI DY Chandrachud to SCBA president Vikas Singh
New Delhi (PTI): A heated exchange of words was witnessed in the Supreme Court on Thursday between Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Vikas Singh in a case related to allotment of land for lawyers' chambers with the CJI directing the senior lawyer not to raise his voice and leave the court.
During the mentioning of cases, the SCBA president told a bench of CJI and justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala that he was struggling to get the matter listed for the last six months.
"The Appu Ghar land came to the Supreme Court on a petition by the SCBA and the Bar was given only one block with reluctance. The construction on the land was to begin during ex-CJI N V Ramana's tenure. For the last six months, we are struggling to get the matter listed. Treat me like an ordinary litigant," Singh said.
The CJI then remarked, "You can't demand land like this. You tell us the day we are sitting idle for the whole day."
To this, Singh replied, "I am not saying that you are sitting idle for the whole day. I am only trying to get the matter listed. If it is not done, I will have to escalate and take it to your lordships' residence. I don't want the Bar to be taken like this."
Chandrachud then got agitated and said, "Don't threaten the chief justice. Is this a way to behave? Please sit down. It will not be listed like this. Please leave my court. I will not list like this. I will not be cowered down by you."
"Mr Vikas Singh, please don't raise your voice. As a president, you should be mentor and leader to the Bar. I am sorry, you are reducing the level of dialogue. You have filed an Article 32 petition, claiming that the land allotted to the Supreme Court should be handed over to the Bar for construction of chambers. We will deal with the matter when it comes. Please don't try and twist our arm to give you the relief you want," the CJI said.
"You are asking for a land allotted to the SC to be given to the Bar. I have announced my decision. It will be taken on 17th and it will not be first on board," he added.
The SCBA president said, "If my lords want to dismiss it, please do it. But don't do that it is not listed."
The CJI replied, "I have announced my verdict. It's on March 17 and it will not be listed at serial number 1, Mr Singh."
The senior lawyer refused to slow down and said the Bar has always supported the court.
"I never want to be unreasonable but I am forced to do so in this case," he said.
Chandrachud then told Singh, "I am the chief justice. I have been here since March 29, 2000. I have been in this profession for 22 years. I have never allowed myself to be browbeaten by a member of the Bar, litigant or anyone else. I will not do that in the final two years of my career."
Refusing to keep quiet, Singh said, "This is not the attitude. If the Bar is cooperating with the court, it doesn't mean it should be taken for a ride. That is something which I feel very strongly. I want to make this very clear."
The CJI then said, "Please sort your agenda outside the courtroom," and called the next matter.
As the mentioning of the cases ended, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who was present in the court for Shiv Sena case, apologised to the bench on behalf of the bar and said, "I'm sorry for what happened this morning. I apologise. There is a Lakshman Rekha that none of us should cross. I don't think that the bar should transgress the limits of decorum".
The CJI said,"There is no reason to behave like this. We sit here the whole day and take up 70-80 matters in a day. For all these matters, I sit with my staff in the evening and give them dates."
Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul also expressed apology and said, "We all join and feel equally anguished by what happened."
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Allahabad HC orders probe into 'reinstatement' of teacher in UP's Barabanki
Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday ordered a probe by the special task force (STF) into alleged irregularities in the rejoining of a teacher at City Intermediate College in Barabanki, observing that the reinstatement appeared to be prima facie illegal.
The court also directed the recovery of the salary paid to the teacher during the disputed period.
A bench of Justice Rajeev Singh passed the order on a petition filed by the college management committee. The court expressed doubts over the roles of the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), Barabanki, the college principal and the teacher concerned and hence, directed a detailed inquiry into the matter.
Taking note of alleged manipulation of records and misleading submissions, the court ordered the immediate transfer of the Barabanki DIOS to ensure a fair probe. It also directed the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the then joint director of education of the Ayodhya division.
In its order, the court found that the teacher, Abhay Kumar, was initially appointed as an assistant teacher in 2018 but joined an Eklavya Model Residential School in Chhattisgarh as a lecturer in June 2024 without obtaining permission from the management. His subsequent request to retain the lien was rejected.
Despite this, he was allowed to rejoin the Barabanki College in September 2025 on the directions of the joint director of education and the DIOS, and was even paid the salary for October 2025. The court termed the rejoining "wholly illegal" and lacking any legal basis.
The bench also expressed concern over lapses in communication within the education department and directed the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to ensure that official orders are communicated through email and WhatsApp as well, to prevent disputes.
The matter is next listed for hearing on May 28 when a compliance report is sought.
