Incumbent President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Senior Advocate Adish Aggarwala is in the race for re-election..Aggarwala was elected as SCBA President on May 17 last year, defeating Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave to the post.In conversation with Bar & Bench's Debayan Roy, Aggarwala claims that certain groups are trying to pressurise the judiciary, and that if re-elected, he will preserve the voting rights of all lawyers..Debayan Roy (DR): Why are you contesting for re-election as SCBA President?.Adish Aggarwala (AA): There are some people and groups trying to pressurise the judiciary and some political parties influencing the working of the SCBA. Additionally, we have to get insurance and chamber allotments completed..DR: What are your achievements as President in the past year?.AA: Our achievement is getting half chamber allotments. Lawyers are allowed to argue for at least two minutes. We have been secular. Earlier, only Hindu religion related functions were celebrated. However, in my tenure, we have even celebrated Eid, Christmas etc..DR: There is some criticism that you are siding with the executive on certain issues. What is your take on that?.AA: This is foolish, they don't know. I have taken up issues when Arvind Kejriwal was arrested; I even opposed his arrest during elections. I have even criticised leaders of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) when they criticised the Supreme Court on the Nupur Sharma issue. I also took issue with the Yogi government (in Uttar Pradesh) for demolishing unauthorised constructions pertaining to only Muslims. That was totally wrong thing done by them..DR: What is your goal for this year, if elected again as President?.AA: My main goal is that every common laywer's voting right should not be taken away, which the elite class of lawyers want. The elite lawyers only want 300 laywers to have all the voting rights. If I am President, I will ensure that is never allowed..DR: Your view on Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal contesting for the post after more than two decades?.AA: I am sure that he will be behind me, possibly number 2 in the race for the Presidential post. Why number 2? Because he has obliged so many when he was a minister in the government. Those individuals whom he has obliged will naturally vote for him..In his address on the eve of the SCBA election, Aggarwala had emphasised that whenever he comes to power, there is revolution. He assured voters that the SCBA's administration would remain democratic."Pichli baar aap ne jitaya tha. Jab main power mein ata hu toh kranti aa jata hain. Sibal Saab has rahe he, unko toh laya gya hain. Mere jeetne k baad hi application lagaya gya ki rule change kia jaye. Hamari EC Adish Aggarwala ki nahi hain but vahan chalti hain majority ki, Adish last mein vichar daalte hain. Maine kahan ni free car stickers ko jab mere treasurer ne kahan ki paise lagenge. Toh sab ke vaade ram bharose rakho," he said.(Loose translation: Last time you all helped me win. Whenever I come to power, there comes revolution. Sibal sir is laughing because he has been brought here. After my victory, an application was filed to change the rule. Our Executive Committee (EC) is not solely of Adish Aggarwala but of the majority. Adish gives his point of view at the end. I said I won't charge for the free car stickers when my Treasurer said money would be spent. So, leave everyone's promises at the mercy of God)..Disclaimer: This interview was conducted on May 15. Since the model code of conduct came into force, candidates were estopped from campaigning with effect from 10 AM on May 15 till polling closed at 6:00 PM on May 16.
Incumbent President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Senior Advocate Adish Aggarwala is in the race for re-election..Aggarwala was elected as SCBA President on May 17 last year, defeating Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave to the post.In conversation with Bar & Bench's Debayan Roy, Aggarwala claims that certain groups are trying to pressurise the judiciary, and that if re-elected, he will preserve the voting rights of all lawyers..Debayan Roy (DR): Why are you contesting for re-election as SCBA President?.Adish Aggarwala (AA): There are some people and groups trying to pressurise the judiciary and some political parties influencing the working of the SCBA. Additionally, we have to get insurance and chamber allotments completed..DR: What are your achievements as President in the past year?.AA: Our achievement is getting half chamber allotments. Lawyers are allowed to argue for at least two minutes. We have been secular. Earlier, only Hindu religion related functions were celebrated. However, in my tenure, we have even celebrated Eid, Christmas etc..DR: There is some criticism that you are siding with the executive on certain issues. What is your take on that?.AA: This is foolish, they don't know. I have taken up issues when Arvind Kejriwal was arrested; I even opposed his arrest during elections. I have even criticised leaders of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) when they criticised the Supreme Court on the Nupur Sharma issue. I also took issue with the Yogi government (in Uttar Pradesh) for demolishing unauthorised constructions pertaining to only Muslims. That was totally wrong thing done by them..DR: What is your goal for this year, if elected again as President?.AA: My main goal is that every common laywer's voting right should not be taken away, which the elite class of lawyers want. The elite lawyers only want 300 laywers to have all the voting rights. If I am President, I will ensure that is never allowed..DR: Your view on Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal contesting for the post after more than two decades?.AA: I am sure that he will be behind me, possibly number 2 in the race for the Presidential post. Why number 2? Because he has obliged so many when he was a minister in the government. Those individuals whom he has obliged will naturally vote for him..In his address on the eve of the SCBA election, Aggarwala had emphasised that whenever he comes to power, there is revolution. He assured voters that the SCBA's administration would remain democratic."Pichli baar aap ne jitaya tha. Jab main power mein ata hu toh kranti aa jata hain. Sibal Saab has rahe he, unko toh laya gya hain. Mere jeetne k baad hi application lagaya gya ki rule change kia jaye. Hamari EC Adish Aggarwala ki nahi hain but vahan chalti hain majority ki, Adish last mein vichar daalte hain. Maine kahan ni free car stickers ko jab mere treasurer ne kahan ki paise lagenge. Toh sab ke vaade ram bharose rakho," he said.(Loose translation: Last time you all helped me win. Whenever I come to power, there comes revolution. Sibal sir is laughing because he has been brought here. After my victory, an application was filed to change the rule. Our Executive Committee (EC) is not solely of Adish Aggarwala but of the majority. Adish gives his point of view at the end. I said I won't charge for the free car stickers when my Treasurer said money would be spent. So, leave everyone's promises at the mercy of God)..Disclaimer: This interview was conducted on May 15. Since the model code of conduct came into force, candidates were estopped from campaigning with effect from 10 AM on May 15 till polling closed at 6:00 PM on May 16.
