“I can assure and promise 1.2 billion people of India that there will be no compromise on the independence of judiciary”, CJI Lodha’s response in “Gopal Gate”

An emotionally charged speech by the Chief Justice of India RM Lodha completely overshadowed what was organised as the farewell function of Justice BS Chauhan. Expressing his disappointment over the conduct of Senior Advocate Gopal Subramanium, the CJI reiterated that the independence of the judiciary will be preserved at all costs..Shocked over questions being raised about the independence of judiciary, Justice Lodha proceeded to say that,.“I have fought for the independence of judiciary for the last 20 years; I will be the first person to leave this chair if judiciary’s independence is compromised.”.Commencing his narration of the episode relating to the appointment of Gopal Subramanium as Supreme Court judge, he said that he was not in agreement with the Government’s decision to segregate Subramanium’s name from the list of four which had been sent by the Collegium. He said that when he had received Subramanium’s letter withdrawing his consent, he was in South Africa. He had then assured Subramanium that the matter would be discussed with him once he returned to India. But Subramanium went ahead and made the letter public. Expressing disappointment over that, Lodha said that in a subsequent meeting with Subramanium on June 28, Lodha had sought reconsideration of his decision to withdraw. Subramanium, however, in a six line letter written on June 29 reiterated his decision to withdraw his candidature..Confirming that the Collegium has withdrawn Subramanium’s name after receiving his letter on June 29, Justice Lodha assured and promised,.“1.2 billion people of this country that there will be no compromise on the independence of judiciary.”.Lodha also condemned the Bar for opposing his 365 day work policy to which Supreme Court Bar Association President PH Parekh responded by saying that if the same is implemented “large number of divorce petitions will be filed by wives of lawyers and judges.”.The farewell function was attended by Justices Markandeya Katju, Deepak Verma, VS Sirpurkar and Cyriac Joseph.