Supreme Court vacation bench refuses to allow Senior Advocates to mention or argue cases

A vacation bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to allow senior counsel to mention or argue cases before it..At least three senior advocates were told by a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah that instructing counsel or advocates-on-record (AoRs) should be given an opportunity to argue and mention matters since the Court is on summer break.Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi was among those who made a mention in the morning, prompting Justice Nath to remark, "Mr Singhvi, we will not hear you for mentionings during vacations. Tell your AoR to mention." The AoR then mentioned the matter and managed to get a date for listing.A similar exchange ensued when senior counsel Anjana Prakash appeared before the bench."What are you doing here during vacation? We will not hear you, but we shall hear the counsel next to you", the Court said.Senior advocate Siddhartha Dave initially tried to point out that other vacation benches had not insisted on such a rule during the vacation. This led Justice Nath to reiterate, "Mr. Dave, we will not allow seniors during vacation. Not in my court.""We have been transparent in this," Justice Amanullah weighed in.In another matter concerning anticipatory bail, Dave proceeded to seek an adjournment.When the plea challenging the grant of pre-arrest bail to Member of Parliament, YS Avinash Reddy was taken up, Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra made way for the petitioner, Suneetha Narreddy, to argue in person. During the course of the hearing, Luthra mentioned some points against the order granting bail. However, this led Justice Nath to remark,"Mr. Luthra, you will put us in trouble of discriminating. Else, others will say ... we are not allowing (all seniors) but you can enter and assist in court.".Other vacation benches of the top court have, however, allowed senior counsel to argue cases, particularly in bail and transfer petitions.Incidentally, the present bench had yesterday heard senior advocate Vivek Sood in a bail case.The other vacation bench sitting today, comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Rajesh Bindal, has heard senior counsel in some matters..Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana had also discouraged the practice of senior counsel making mentionings before him. He had stated that the reason for having a mentioning officer at the Supreme Court was to ensure that senior advocates do not get priority when it comes to mentioning matters.