CJI meets SCBA President, assures co-operation to resolve issues with the Bar; Admitted matters to be listed only after four weeks’ notice

The Chief Justice of India HL Dattu and President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Dushyant Dave had a meeting yesterday to iron out the differences between the Bar and the Bench. This meeting came hours before the SCBA was set to pass a slew of resolutions including one demanding “respectful treatment” of lawyers. The meeting seems to have eased the tension between the apex Bar and the Bench as the CJI has expressed his willingness and co-operation to resolve the issues raised by the SCBA..As per the circular issued by the SCBA yesterday, the following have come out of the meeting between the CJI and the SCBA President..1. All Final hearing matters will be listed with at least four weeks’ advance notice.2. All fresh matters will be listed in appropriate court with sufficient notice.3. Any urgent request for mentioning will be permitted liberally before the Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India.4. Hon’ble CJI assured that the Registry officials are and will be courteous to the members of the Bar and that, if any instance of misconduct is brought by the concerned lawyer to the notice of the Assistant Registrar concerned and if necessary to the Secretary General, corrective steps will be taken forthwith. Further, the President, SCBA shall be kept informed and may bring the issue to the attention of the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India.5. Hon’ble Chief Justice of India will meet the Executive Committee from time to time to discuss the problems and issues facing the Bar and attempt will be made to resolve them. Hon’ble Chief Justice of India has further desired that the President, SCBA could meet him, including at home, for any issue affecting the members of the Bar, which may require his immediate attention..The circular ends with the SCBA Executive Committee acknowledging the,.“positive intervention of the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India in resolving the serious issues being faced by the Bar.”.An emergent General Body meeting of the SCBA was scheduled for 4:15 pm yesterday to discuss and consider five resolutions. The resolutions pertained to listing of admitted matters without sufficient prior notice, the manner of hearing of matters by certain Benches in a “hurried and selected manner” and “rude and unprofessional conduct of Registry officials”. Further, one of the resolutions demanded “respectful treatment of lawyers at the hands of CJI Dattu and Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose”..In the light the assurances by the CJI, the General Body meeting has been deferred indefinitely.