Karnataka lawyer asks SCBA President Vikas Singh to withdraw comment on Supreme Court lawyers being more "meritorious" than High Court lawyers

A Karnataka based lawyer has taken strong objection to a comment by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Vikas Singh who said that Supreme Court lawyers are more "meritorious" than High Court lawyers..The said statement was made by Singh in his communication dated June 8 addressed to the members of SCBA in relation to a proposal to consider Supreme Court lawyers for elevation as High Court judges. .Singh had stated how Supreme Court lawyers are not considered by High Court collegium for elevation to High Courts even though Supreme Court lawyers are "professionally more meritorious" than their high court counterparts. ."Inspite of having vast experience and exposure in dealing with all kinds of issues relating to civil, criminal, constitutional, commercial law, etc., the lawyers practicing in the Supreme Court are rarely considered for elevation by the High Court collegium as they do not regularly practice before the High Court and while being professionally more meritorious than their colleagues at the High Court, loose the opportunity for being considered as such," Singh's communication said. .Advocate S Basavaraj from Karnataka, member of State Bar Council, has termed these statements as "outrageous" and has written to Singh asking him to withdraw the same immediately. .Basavaraj said that High Courts have contributed some of the best judges to the Supreme Court who have "made the highest judicial institution brick by brick."."Many lawyers have started their practice at the Taluka and District level and enriched High Courts with their vast knowledge and experience," the letter by Basavaraj to Singh said. .Self proclamation by SCBA that lawyers practicing in the Supreme Court are professionally more meritorious than their colleagues at the High Courts makes a mockery of the lawyers' fraternity, he further said. .[UPDATE] SCBA claims CJI NV Ramana agreed to proposal to elevate Supreme Court lawyers as High Court judges; Not confirmed by CJI office.The "offensive" portion in the letter should be recalled forthwith to avoid nationwide protests by lawyers practicing at different high courts, Basavaraj cautioned. .The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) had claimed through a communication sent to its members that Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana "has agreed" to its request to consider elevating Supreme Court lawyers as High Court judges..The CJI, the SCBA communication claimed, accepted the proposal..The CJI office had later denied the development while stating that the proposal was only under consideration.