'Don't mess around with my authority', CJI Chandrachud to lawyer

The CJI, who rarely loses his cool during judicial proceedings, got irked when the lawyer first sought an early hearing of his case and, after being told that it will be listed on April 17, asked for liberty to mention it before another bench.

New Delhi: Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud Tuesday sternly asked a lawyer to not "mess around" his authority when the latter mentioned a case for early hearing before a Supreme Court bench presided over by the CJI.

The CJI, who rarely loses his cool during judicial proceedings, got irked when the lawyer first sought an early hearing of his case and, after being told that it will be listed on April 17, asked for liberty to mention it before another bench.

"I can mention before another bench if permitted," the lawyer said. "Do not play these tricks with me. You can't mention it here and then elsewhere for an earlier date," the CJI, who was sharing the bench with justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala, said. Sensing the mood of the bench, the lawyer expressed regret and said he should be excused for his submissions.

"Yes, you are excused. But do not mess around with my authority," the CJI said sternly and proceeded to hear mentioning of other cases for urgent hearing. Every morning, the CJI-led bench hears around 100 cases on average for their urgent listing before benches in the Supreme Court.

Earlier in March, there was a heated exchange of words between CJI Chandrachud and the Supreme Court Bar Association president Vikas Singh while hearing a land allotment matter relating to lawyers' chambers. An exchange of words was witnessed when the SCBA President stressed for listing a matter before a bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud. (Agency inputs)