In a first, SC's full court decides to issue showcause to senior advocate
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court has decided to issue a showcause notice to a senior advocate asking why the designation conferred upon him by the apex court should not be revoked.
The unprecedented decision comes in the wake of allegations of misconduct against senior advocate Rishi Malhotra.
A full court, convened by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, and comprising all apex court judges on the administrative side unanimously decided on the decision.
The top court had passed strictures against Malhotra on February 20.
He is accused of suppressing material facts in multiple cases of premature release of prisoners aside from making misleading statements despite warnings of the top court.
The full court, which authorised its secretary general Bharat Parashar, to issue the showcause notice, said Malhotra should be given one more opportunity to explain his conduct before being stripped off the senior designation.
In its February 20 verdict, a bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih flagged his conduct in a recent case while accusing him of not disclosing that the top court had barred the convict's remission for 30 years.
Similarly, Malhotra was found by the court to have misled the apex court on other occasions.
"We make it clear that we are not recording any final finding against Rishi Malhotra, senior advocate, on the question whether his designation can be withdrawn. We leave it to the Chief Justice of India to take a call on this issue," it had said.
The bench said what it had reproduced was "borne out from the record".
Malhotra, it said, was designated as a senior advocate on August 14, 2024.
"The conduct of the advocate reflected from the orders of this court passed in this very appeal, and other cases where the advocate appeared raises an important question of whether the decisions of this court in the case of Indira Jaising-I and Indira Jaising-II, which lay down the guidelines for designation of senior advocates by this Court and high courts across the country under the 1961 Act, need reconsideration," it added.
The bench wondered it the system of senior designation set up under these decisions had "really worked effectively".
"A serious introspection is required to answer the question of whether the rules framed in terms of the said decisions have ensured that only deserving advocates are being designated," it said.
The bench said it neither could disagree with the two binding decisions nor take a contrary view.
"However, all that we are doing is expressing a few serious doubts and concerns. We propose to direct that this issue be placed before the Chief Justice of India to consider whether the issue needs to be reconsidered by a Bench of appropriate strength," it said.
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KSCA expresses disappointment over missing IPL playoffs, says it was ready to host matches in B’luru
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has issued a clarification stating that it was fully prepared to host the IPL playoffs and final matches in Bengaluru but the fixtures were allotted to other venues.
In a media note, KSCA said it was disappointed with the decision. The association stated that its president, former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, had been in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and had formally conveyed the association’s readiness and interest in hosting the matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
KSCA said the IPL matches held in Bengaluru this season were appreciated for smooth conduct, crowd management and overall experience for spectators. It said this reflected its ability to handle high-profile matches.
The association also stated that it had sent a detailed communication to the BCCI explaining its preparedness and the operational arrangements followed during the current IPL season. According to KSCA, these systems have been in place since the start of the Indian Premier League in 2008 and were followed consistently, including during previous playoff matches hosted in Bengaluru.
The clarification added that the communication sent to the BCCI was only meant to provide factual and operational details and to bring clarity on logistical and stakeholder-related requirements involved in hosting such matches.
KSCA said that although it had shown willingness and preparedness, the BCCI has decided to allocate the playoff matches to other venues. It added that the reasons for this decision have not been formally shared with the association, but it respects the authority of the board in taking such decisions.
The association further said it remains ready to host matches of national and international importance and will continue to cooperate with the BCCI, franchises, government authorities and other stakeholders for conducting cricket events.
The statement was issued by KSCA official spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya, who also thanked the media and cricket fans for their continued support.
