An increasing number of young lawyers — many fresh from law colleges — appearing before the country’s top constitutional court, has put the Supreme Court off.
The lawyers’ casual handling of briefs and adjournment-seeking for lack of knowledge of their cases has led the SC to suggest minimum 20 years experience in lower courts as an eligibility criteria to appear before it.
The move also aims to reduce increasing backlog of cases.
“In earlier days, we used to practise for 10 years in district courts and another 10 years in high courts before coming to the Supreme Court. But these days, law graduates directly come to the Supreme Court and want to become Nani Palkhiwalas!” a bench of justices Markandey Katju and AK Patnaik remarked.
The judges made the remarks while chiding two young lawyers appearing for their respective clients. The lawyers tried to argue their cases without proper documentation, citations and evidence.
There was a loud laugh when an advocate sought adjournment of his case on the ground that his files relating to the case had “disappeared mysteriously”.
Justice Katju cautioned that advocates should be wary of their files being stolen by rival lawyers as he recalled the insecurity prevalent in the Allahabad high court when he was a judge there.
He also recalled another instance when a prominent advocate was caught stealing a number of cars from the high court premises and stealing files of other advocates. There were many such advocates who resorted to such practices, he said.
Justice Katju recalled other instances where even chairs in advocates’ bar rooms were shackled to pillars as they were stolen frequently! As the judge recollected these funny incidents, the court resounded with laughter.
