On Friday, the Supreme Court has rapped Lawyer/petitioner while reserving its order on plea filed by a him alleging partiality and favouristism in the Supreme Court Registry in listing of matters.
The Court in a strict tone stated that reckless allegations cannot be made against the Registry that is working hard to make the procedure smooth for Lawyers and Litigants.
The petitioner Advocate Reepak Kansal has filed petition against the Secretary-General and the Registry of the Supreme Court alleging that the Registry is partial on part of influential Law Firms and litigants in its task of listing of matters.
The petitioner emphasised before the Court that guidelines and directions are needed to stop the Registry from discriminating against ordinary lawyers.
During the course of the hearing, the petitioner examplified that the plea filed by Editor in Chief of Republic TV Arnab Goswami was listed in an urgent manner by the Registry whereas Kansal's plea filed days before Goswami's took days to be listed before the Court.
On these arguements, the Bench comprising of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice S Abdul Nazeer questioned Kansal/petitioner regarding the defects in his plea owing to which the listing was deferred and observed that an unnecessary allegation was being made by Kansal against the Registry.
The plea discussed in arguemnts by Kansal's plea was the one concerning "One nation, one ration card" which had not been listed by the registry due to defects. He compared it with the petition filed by Journalist Arnab Goswami challenging the multiple FIRs registered against him in various States which was listed within a day's time and taken up for hearing by the Court.
Justice Arun Mishra said:
"You are unnecessarily blaming the registry. Documents were missing in the plea (filed by Kansal) on May 29. You are unnecessarily dragging Arnab Goswami case. Why are you saying such nonsense? You cannot compare One nation one ration card plea with that of Goswami. What was the urgency in your plea. Why are you making such allegations. Be responsible"
Justice S Abdul Nazeer added:
"The Court batted for the Registries of the Supreme Court as well as the High Courts and said that the Registries were putting in a lot of hard work to ensure a smooth process for the lawyers and litigants. The petitioner should have been responsible before making such allegations.All registry in Supreme Court and High Courts are working day and night to make your life easier. How can you demoralize them?"
The Court noted that the Registry is a part and parcel of the Supreme Court and not subordinate to the Judicial side.
Kansal had earlier written a letter to the Secretary General highlighting the discrimination practised by the Registry while listing cases, on the same day Arnab's petition was listed.
Kansal's in his plea stated:
"The petitioner was forced to pay more court fee to get listed his matter. Petitioner had also filed application and letter for urgency. Petitioner made several requests to list the matter. But the Registry failed to register and list the said writ petition."
"There are many petitioner/lawyers have been suffering by unequal treatment by the Registry as the cases filed by some law firms/influential lawyers are immediately listed by Registry ignoring the cases of ordinary petitioner/lawyers."
