Five exchanges between ML Sharma and Dipak Misra J. in the Nirbhaya hearing

For four days now, courtroom 4 of the Supreme Court of India has been hearing the appeal of those convicted in the Nirbhaya gang-rape case. A bench of Justice Dipak Mishra, R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan, JJ have been patiently hearing the arguments of a lawyer who is well known amongst those who track the apex court..A man who goes by the name of ML Sharma..And the tension between Sharma and the bench, in particular, the senior most judge Dipak Misra J, is palpable..The simmering tension between the two reached a crescendo last Friday with Misra J, declaring.“Enough is enough. You cannot go on like this!”.It was not the only flashpoint..Here are five exchanges that typified the day’s arguments, and the mood of the Bench..1. “Bear with me”.M L Sharma: Please bear with me, your Lordship..Dipak Mishra J: No, we will not bear with you. (To senior counsel Siddharth Luthra) Mr. Luthra, you better be ready with replies to his arguments, because we cannot understand a word he’s saying..2. Darwin’s theory .Dipak Misra J: (exasperated) Okay, Mr. Sharma, let us come to facts. Do you believe Darwin’s Theory of Evolution?.M L Sharma: No, you Lordship..Misra J: (seemingly horrified) How can you not believe in a scientific fact?.3. Trial judge torture.Dipak Misra J: You are saying that statement under Section 313 was recorded under coercion..M L Sharma: Yes, your Lordship..Mishra J: Statement under Section 313 is recorded by the trial judge. Did the trial judge torture your client?.4. Of Toleration.Dipak Misra J: (after listening to a long drawn explanation about the Mahabharat, the Ramayana and other historical epics) You cannot now start lecturing us about the Catholics and the French people..You know nothing, and yet you make speeches. We are tolerating you, so please come to the point..5. Brothers.Dipak Mishra J: You have pronounced your client innocent. How did you decide that?.M L Sharma: Your Lordship, my client was with his brother. No man can rape a woman in the presence of his brother..Dipak Mishra J: That is your submission? You spoke of the Mahabharata. What was it that Duryodhana ordered Dushasana to do to Draupadi?.(Court titters in agreement)