The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a petition filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) seeking Supreme Court land for the construction of a chamber block for lawyers.
A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and PS Narasimha stated that the land was allotted to the top court for housing Supreme Court archives and that a judicial direction to convert it for the benefit of the SCBA could not be issued by the apex court.
“SCBA cannot claim ownership on the entirety of land allotted to the Supreme Court for the purpose of housing Supreme Court archives. The petitioner has sought that the whole territory surrounding the Supreme Court on Bhagwan Das be converted. Such directions cannot be issued on judicial side,” the Court stated.
The Supreme Court, on the other hand, stated that after consulting with the SCBA, the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA), and other bar members, the administrative side of the Court can take up the subject.
“We leave it to the Supreme Court of India to handle this administratively. Discussions with SCBA, SCAORA, and other bar members would be part of the process. The plea is disposed of,” the Court stated.
The matter had also strained relations between the SCBA and the CJI after the CJI rebuked SCBA president Vikas Singh on March 2 for demanding on an urgent listing of the case.
