cji-rebukes-centre-seeking-adjournment-to-avoid-his-bench

Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai has expressed serious disapproval at the Central government's request for adjournment of a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the provisions of Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021.

 

He said that the government was trying to avoid the Bench headed by him since he has only a few days left for retirement.

The matter is slated for hearing on Friday, November 7. The request for adjournment was made today by through Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati via mentioning.The bench of CJI Gavai, Justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice Vipul M Pancholi then called out the Attorney General for India (AG) R Venkataramani for seeking the adjournment just days before the CJI Gavai retires from the top court.

 

He said the Court wanted to hear the matter on Friday and write judgment over the weekend."We have accommodated you twice already. How many more? If you want it after November 24 tell us then.(CJI Gavai demits office then). Very unfair to the court. Every time you seek accommodation for international arbitration. You have a battery of lawyers and then you file midnight applications seeking reference to larger benches! When we were in the high court, whatever briefs we had to give up when we had to come here.

 

 We had the highest regard for the highest constitutional court. We did not take any other cases tomorrow. We throught we will hear tomorrow and write judgment over the weekend," the CJI said.If you want it after November 24 (after CJI Gavai's retirement) tell us then. Very unfair to the Supreme Court.On November 3 too, CJI Gavai had remarked that the Central government wanted to prevent him from deciding the case.

 

 

"We do not expect Union to indulge in such tactics. This is after we have heard one party fully and accommodated the AG on personal grounds," CJI Gavai added Justice Chandran also appeared to be in agreement with the CJI, stating that the objection should have been raised earlier.CJI had then made it clear that the preliminary objection would be rejected.