Off day for “In person Petitioners” in CJI Lodha’s court; Slaps costs on ML Sharma while another party breaks down

It turned out to be a bad outing for “In person” petitioners in Court Room 1 today as a relentless Chief Justice (CJI) Lodha came down heavily upon three such petitioners on the trot. The petitioners included Advocate ML Sharma who was singled out for special treatment with Justice Lodha imposing costs of Rs. 50, 000..Petitioner Ram Naresh Singh was the first to bear the brunt. Singh has been noticeable for some time now in the Supreme Court, thanks to his emotional and aggressive arguments. Justice Lodha had chided him before for touching and shouting at the opposite counsel while arguing..Today was no different. The Court after hearing Singh today informed him that it would seek a report from the concerned High Court for a better understanding of the subject matter. Singh, however, persisted with his animated arguments and demanded that a direction should also be issued to the High Court regarding stoppage of payments to a third party till the matter is finally decided. Justice Kurian Joseph tried to convince Singh but to no avail. Justice Lodha then proceeded to dictate an order to adjourn the matter for six months “as the Petitioner is shouting and the Court cannot understand his arguments.” Singh immediately broke down and beseeched the court with folded hands. Justice Lodha then ordered that the matter be listed after three months as a grief-stricken Singh was led out of the court room..Next in the queue was Advocate ML Sharma. Sharma, who was seen consoling Singh when the latter was in tears, had a far worse fate in store as the Bench proceeded to listen patiently to his Habeas Corpus petition on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose before finally imposing costs of Rs. 50, 000. Sharma, in his petition, had sought for a direction to the Central government to produce the body of Netaji or give details about his “life status.”.“This is such a hopeless and frivolous petition and is dismissed with costs of Rs. 1,00,000”, was Justice Lodha’s order after he heard Sharma at length..After much pleading and praying, the cost was reduced to Rs. 50,000..The next party in person was Yashwant Sudhkarrao Howal. Justice Lodha proceeded to remind him of the fate of his predecessors before dismissing the petition..This is the second time in two months that Justice Lodha is imposing costs on ML Sharma. Earlier, he had imposed cost of Rs. 25,000 in a PIL seeking quashing of the sale of Air India hotels.